Physical science in the time of Nero

INDEX TO THE “QUAESTIONES NATURALES”

^a prefixed to a name indicates authorities used by Seneca.

A
^a Academy, 307. School and followers of Plato.
Achaia, 142, 224, 225, 235, 288 (adj.), 303. District in N.W. of southern part of Greece (Morea).
Actors, regard for, 307.
Adriatic, 153.
Adversity, to be faced with joy, 111, 112.
Aegean (Sea), 73, 252. Eastern part of the Mediterranean.
Aegium, 257 (2). A leading town in Achaia on the Gulf of Corinth.
^a Aeschylus, 172.
Africa, 117, 212, 236, 263.
Africus (Wind), 210.
Air, tension of, 58;
wide diffusion of, 60;
transformed into water, 119, 121;
transformed into fire, 120, 121, 205;
kindled by friction, 205, 206, 277;
kindled within the earth, 236, 251;
the cause of earthquakes, 239–48, 251, 254, 255;
enters interior of earth, 254, 255.
Albula, 134. Small stream flowing into the Arno near Tibur (Tivoli) some 16 miles E. of Rome.
Alexander (the Great), 110, 215, 254 (2).
Alexandria, 273.
Alpheüs, 142 (2), 235. River in Elis in Southern Greece.
Alps, 110, 173, 184.
Ambracian (Gulf), 153. On W. of Greece (Gulf of Arta).
Ammon; see Jupiter.
Amphitheatre, jets of water in, 59.
^a Anaxagoras, 63, 68, 172, 178, 236, 276. Celebrated Ionian philosopher, 500–428 B.C.
^a Anaximander, 67. Ionian philosopher, 610–547 B.C.
^a Anaximenes, 67, 237. Ionian philosopher about 500 B.C.
Animals, blind in subterranean waters, 129.
Animals, new forms of, discovered in Seneca’s time, 305;
many still to be found out, 305.
Antiochus, 288. King of Syria, 137–128 B.C.
Antony (Mark), 172.
Ants, mankind compared to, 6.
Apennines, 184.
Apollonia, 12, 68, 176. Town in Illyria.
^a Apollonius (of Myndus), 274, 290, 300. Said to have flourished about the time of Alexander the Great (330 B.C.). There may be some confusion in the text between him and the celebrated Pythagorean philosopher, A. of Tyana, who was born shortly before the Christian era.
Apollonius Pycta (or pyctes = the boxer), 161. Unknown otherwise; apparently a gladiator.
Apulia, 211. District in S.E. of Italy.
Aquarius (sign of the Zodiac), 301.
Aquilo (Wind), 209.
^a Aratus, 37. Of Cilicia, astronomical poet, flourished 270 B.C.
Araxes, 246. River in Armenia (Aras).
Arcadia, 122, 137. District in centre of Southern Greece.
^a Archelaus, 239. Philosopher, flourished about 450 B.C. Pupil and partly disciple of Anaxagoras.
Arethusa, 142 (2), 235. Celebrated fountain in Syracuse in Sicily.
Argestes (Wind), 210.
Argolic, 142. Argolis is a district in N.E. of Southern Greece.
^a Aristotle, 8, 9, 10, 19 (2), 33, 63, 240, 242, 276, 277, 302 (2), 303 (2), 304. See Introduction.
^a Artemidorus (of Parium), 22, 286 (2), 287. Not otherwise known.
^a Asclepiodotus, 74, 77, 207, 246, 253. Not otherwise known.
Asia, 224, 233. Province on the W. coast of Asia Minor, or generic name for area E. and N.E. of Europe.
Astronomy (Caelestia), scope of, 51;
of Egyptians, 274;
of Chaldaeans, 275;
of Greeks, 298.
Atabulus (Wind), 211.
Atalanta, 256. Small island between Euboea and mainland of Greece. The channel now bears the name Talanta, which is likewise that of a neighbouring town.
Athens, 211.
^a Attalus, 94, 95. Stoic philosopher, one of Seneca’s teachers.
Attalus, 288. King of Pergamus, 241–197 B.C.
Atlantic Ocean, 174, 175 (2).
Atlantic Ocean, growth of trade to ports on shores of, 175.
Atmosphere, friction of, produces fires, 9, 39;
upper portion dry and hot, 39, 60, 65, 78;
possesses unity or continuity, 52, 57;
place of, in universe, 54;
earthy elements of, 56, 60;
tension of, 56;
lowest portion dense and dark, 60, 184;
and warmer than the rest, 183;
distribution of temperature in, 60, 184;
causes of movements of, 61;
relation of, to the ether, 65, 66;
adapted to transmit sound, 77;
rarefied, kindles fire, 100, 205;
by violent movement sets itself on fire, 102;
proof that it is never absolutely motionless, 193;
possesses a native capacity of movement, 197.
Atoms, the world a fortuitous concourse of, 7.
Augury, kinds of, 79, 80, 82.
Augustus, 9, 12, 42, 211, 290.
Auster (Wind), 210.
^a Authorities (various, not specified by name, but spoken of as “certain,” “some,” etc.), 18, 31, 35, 57, 63, 67, 73, 75, 93, 101, 110, 116, 118, 119, 122, 135, 148 (2), 150, 182, 184, 186, 230, 233, 236, 238, 239, 242, 243, 244, 283.
Avarice, denounced, 207.
B
Bactra, 215. In Central Asia (Balkh).
^a Balbillus, 171. Governor of Egypt in Nero’s reign, 53.
Balkan Mountains; see Haemus.
Baths, heating of water of, 136;
effect of Campanian earthquake on tiled floor of, 264.
Bathyllus, 307. A native of Alexandria, freedman at Rome during reign of Augustus; perfected a pantomimic or ballet dance.
Bear (Great), 208.
Belus, 151. Babylonian deity.
^a Berosus, 151. Priest of Belus, about 250 B.C.
Black Sea; see Pontus.
Boeotia, 137. District in Central Greece.
Boreas (Wind), 208.
Bothynae (meteors), 37.
Breezes, morning, 195, 198.
Buris; see Helice.
C
^a Caecina, 86, 94, 95, 100. A friend and correspondent of Cicero, about 48 B.C.
Caesar (Julius), 166, 213, 290.
Caius (Emperor Caligula), 163, 164.
Calabria, 211. District in extreme S.E. of Italy.
^a Callimachus, 172. Grammarian and poet; chief librarian of Alexandrine library, 260–240 B.C.
^a Callisthenes, 254 (6), 258, 276, 277. Relative and pupil of Aristotle, friend and victim of Alexander the Great.
Cambyses, 78. King of Persia, 529–522 B.C.
Campania, 221 (2), 224 (2), 225, 239, 257, 259 (adj.), 264, 265. District in Italy containing Capua, Naples, etc.
Cancer (sign of the Zodiac), 151.
Cannae, 209. In Apulia.
Cannon, ancient types of, 67.
Capitol, 91.
Cappadocia, 138. Centre of Asia Minor.
Capricorn (sign of the Zodiac), 151.
Caria, 132, 142 (adj.). S.W. of Asia Minor.
Carthage, 110, 166.
Caspian, 153.
Cassander, 122. Son of Antipater, regent of Macedonia; eventually king of Macedonia; died 297 B.C.
Castor and Pollux, 11. Constellation and sign of the Zodiac (Gemini).
Cataegis (Wind), 211.
Cataracts (Nile), 168.
Caucasus, 173.
Caves with noxious air, 134;
felt to be warmer in winter than in summer, 176, 241.
Caÿstrus (or Caÿster), 173. River in W. of Asia Minor flowing into the sea near Ephesus.
Chalcis, 246, 257. Chief town of Euboea on Strait at narrowest point.
^a Chaldaeans, 81, 275 (3), 302.
^a Charimander (or Charmander), 276. Otherwise unknown.
Charms, laws against, 182.
Charybdis, 153. Whirlpool in Strait of Messina.
Chasmata (meteors), 38.
Chersonese (= peninsula), 142. Carian or Rhodian on S.W. of Asia Minor.
Chios, 175. Island and town (Scio) off coast of Asia Minor.
^a Cicero, 100.
Ciconians, 133. Tribe in Thrace.
Circius (Wind), 211.
Claudius (Emperor), 290, 294, 304.
Cleonae, 181, 182. Town in Argolis.
Cleopatra, 172 (2). Antony’s celebrated partner.
^a Clidemus, 99. A philosopher anterior in date to Aristotle.
Clouds, as sources of lightning and thunder, 10, 62, 63, 64, 75, 203;
invisible when we are within them, 24;
composition of, 24;
compression of, causes thunder, 67;
produce fire, 70, 74, 100;
must be burst before they emit sound, 76, 98;
not necessarily connected with wind, 195;
as sources of wind, 203, 204.
Cloud-winds, 203.
Colours (in rainbow), origin of, 21, 25, 30, 31.
Comets, infrequency of, 272, 288, 301;
what are they? 272;
points of resemblance of, to planets, 273;
resemblance to meteors, 275, 276;
classes of, 276, 290;
not due to wind, 278, 279–282;
curved path of, 279;
long visibility of, 282;
distribution and shape of, 283;
Greek classification of, 283;
different from the planets, 284;
examples of, 288, 290;
vast orbits of, 290, 297, 302;
vary in apparent size as they advance or retreat, 291;
transparency of, 291, 300;
Stoic opinions regarding, 291–294;
directions of, 294, 303, 304;
Seneca’s opinion, 295, 305;
form of, 300;
portents from, 302.
^a Conon, 274. Astronomer; born at Samos; lived at Alexandria about 250 B.C. Said to have been a friend of Archimedes.
Constellations, 301.
Contentment, duty of, 112.
Continuity or unity, defined, 53.
Corus (Wind), 210.
Corycian (Mt.), 122. The district round Corycus in Cilicia was famous for saffron.
Crassus, 215. Celebrated Roman, slain in battle in Mesopotamia, 53 B.C.
Crete, 123, 153 (adj.).
Crispus Passienus, 160. Stepfather of Nero. Consul in 42.
Crocodiles and dolphins, fight between, 171;
chase of, 172.
Cutiliae, 139 (2). In the Sabine country, N.E. of Rome.
Cyclades, 147. Group of islands in Grecian Archipelago.
Cyclopes, 91. Jove’s fabled armourers with workshops beneath Etna, Stromboli, etc.
Cyprus, 259.
D
Dacian, 5.
Danube, as a political boundary, 5, 233;
alleged remarkable character of, 135;
floods of, 146;
contrasted with the Nile, 166;
not swollen in winter, 173.
Darius, 254. King of Persia, 521–485 B.C.
Death, to be faced without fear, 103, 223, 226, 265–268;
equalises mankind, 223;
the introduction to a better place than earth, 267.
Delos, 258, 259. Perhaps the most famous of “the isles of Greece.”
Deluge, that is to destroy the earth, 143.
^a Demetrius, 161. Cynic philosopher, contemporary of Seneca.
Demetrius (father and son), 288. Kings of Syria between 162 and 125 B.C.
^a Democritus, 183 (2), 194, 249, 250, 276. The optimist or “laughing philosopher” of Abdera in Thrace; said to have lived 460–361 B.C.
^a Diogenes (of Apollonia in Crete), 68, 176, 177. Pupil of Anaximenes, lived in fifth century B.C.
Dnieper (Borysthenes), 174.
Dog-star, 202.
Dolphins and crocodiles, fight between, 171.
Doris, translated “sea nymph” in the quotation from Virgil, 142.
Dowsers, 127.
Drops, globular form of, 178.
Drunkenness, 134, 188.
E
Earth, material of, formed from water, 120, 121.
Earth as a whole, place of the, in universe, 55;
formed after the plan of our bodies, 126, 151, 242, 255;
final destruction of, 143;
itself the cause of earthquakes, 237;
whether it or the universe revolves, 273.
Earth’s interior, water supply in, 119, 206, 233, 234;
cold temperature of, 119, 121;
like surface above ground, 128, 206;
blind animals in waters of, 129;
origin of wind within, 206, 239, 243, 244, 254;
landslips in, 238, 249, 251;
store of vital air in, 244, 245.
Earthquakes, causes of, 51, 229, 230, 236, 249;
effects of, 121, 221, 229, 257, 259, 262, 263;
Campanian (of A.D. 63), 221, 257, 259, 262, 264;
influence of, on the human mind, 222, 262;
widespread destruction produced by, 223;
not the work of angry gods, 228;
Seneca’s youthful work on, 230;
water as the origin of, 231;
fire as the origin of, 236, 238;
air as the origin of, 239–248, 251, 255, 256, 264;
mixed sources of, 249;
varieties of movement in (inclinatio, succussio, tremor), 252;
most frequent near the sea, 255;
cause of local extent of, 257;
features of the Campanian, 259–264;
the first shock of, the most violent, 264.
Eclipses, 35, 274, 284, 293.
Egypt, 6, 167–177 (passim);
great heat in, 173;
said not to be visited by earthquakes, 258.
^a Egyptians, ideas of, as to the elements, 125;
astronomy of, 274.
Elements, interchangeability of, 120, 121, 245;
four in number, 123;
contrariety of, 301.
Eleusis, 306. In Attica, N.W. of Athens about 12 miles; scene of the great Eleusinian mysteries.
Elis, 114, 257. District in S.W. of Southern Greece.
Emanations, terrestrial, feed the sun and stars, 55, 198, 244;
cause thunder, lightning, and commotion of the air, 63, 275;
dry and moist, 63, 78.
^a Empedocles, 136 (2). Philosopher of Agrigentum in Sicily, flourished about 444 B.C.
^a Ephorus, 289 (3). Greek historian of some repute about 340 B.C.
^a Epicurus, 250. Born 342, died 270 B.C.
^a Epigenes, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280 (2), 283. A Greek astronomer of Byzantium of uncertain date.
Erasinus, 142. River of Argolis.
Etesian (Winds), 174 (4), 175, 201 (4), 202 (4), 212.
Ether, characters of the, 65;
descent of force from the, 68.
Ethiopia, 6, 117, 167, 168, 172, 173, 212, 235. Term was applied very loosely to all the hinterland of Africa, only the Mediterranean coast and a portion of the Nile basin being known to the Greeks.
Etna, 77.
^a Etruscans (or Tuscans), 79, 88, 92, 95 (sing.). Etruria lay immediately N. of the Tiber.
^a Eudoxus, 274. Astronomer of Cnidus in Caria, pupil of Plato, flourished about 366 B.C.
Euphrates, 5, 215.
^a Euripides, 173.
Euronotus (Wind), 210.
Europe, 173 (adj.), 233.
Eurus (Wind), 208, 209.
^a Euthymenes (of Marseilles), 174, 175 (2). Geographer, probably about 150 B.C.
Evaporation from the earth, 198, 200, 240.
Expiation, the reason for, 83, 84.
Eyesight swifter than hearing, 64.
F
^a Fabianus (Papirius), 144. Distinguished Stoic, one of Seneca’s teachers.
Falernian (wine), 35. District famous for wine in N. of Campania.
Fate, unalterable, 83;
nature of, 84, 91;
uncertainty of visitations of, 225.
Favonius (Wind), 210.
Fear, how to be combated, 103, 225, 229, 265, 266, 267;
arises from ignorance, 229;
leads to loss of reason, 262.
Fidus Annaeus, 161. Apparently a gladiator of gigantic stature.
Fire, kindled in atmosphere, 39, 62, 64, 70, 100, 102;
passes into air, 120;
artificial modes of producing, by percussion or friction, 70;
naturally rises, 71, 102;
endowed with the power of producing some animals, 197;
as the cause of earthquakes, 236, 238;
produced in the earth’s interior, 251;
kindled by air, 251.
Fires, celestial, 8, 39, 294, 295, 296.
Fish in underground waters, 129, 132.
Flattery, counsel against, 159.
Floods, the earth to be finally destroyed by, 143, 144.
Fortune, vicissitudes of, 111.
Fountains, discharges from, 142.
Fucinus, 116. Large lake in Sabine country E. of Rome.
G
Gaetulicus, 163. Cn. Cornelius Lentulus G., put to death by Caligula 39.
Galatia, 138.
Gallic, 6.
Gallio, 161, 202. See Introduction.
Gaul, 117, 122 (pl.), 211.
Geography (Terrena), scope of, 51, 52.
Germanicus, 9. Nero Claudius Drusus, brother of the Emperor Tiberius, died 10 B.C.
Germans, 233.
Germany, 5, 117, 166.
Gibraltar, 175.
Glass, globe of, filled with water magnifies objects, 29;
cause of iridescence in, 30.
God, nature of, 3, 4, 7, 8, 91, 305;
sends portents, 80;
unchangeable, 84;
to Him everything is present, 84;
His design in creating the winds, 213, 216.
Gods, dread of infernal, 208;
do not disturb heaven or earth, 228;
not to be feared, 266.
Gold, lust for, denounced, 5, 208, 215.
Greece, 215, 274 (2), 298.
Greek, 58, 95, 210, 255.
^a Greeks, 12, 13, 15, 34, 39, 40, 140, 169, 198, 203, 205, 209 (2), 210, 211, 240, 255, 283.
Gusts of wind, origin of, 203.
Gylippus, 12. Spartan commander against Athenians at Syracuse, 414 B.C.
H
Haemus (Balkan Mountains), 122.
Hail, 177, 181;
falls more in summer than winter, 179;
prognostications of, 181.
Halos (crowns), round sun and moon, 12, 14, 34, 41.
Hannibal, 110, 209. Famous Carthaginian general in Second Punic War, 219–201 B.C.
Happiness, how to be gained, 5, 266.
Heavenly bodies, influence of, on rivers, 141;
on weather, 275;
apparent retrogression of some, 299.
Heavens, extent of the, 7;
contemplation of the starry, 271;
divisions of the, 210;
supposed by Artemidorus to be a solid vault, 286.
Helice and Buris (or Bura), 254, 257, 259, 267, 276, 277, 289. Towns in Achaia swallowed by earthquake 373 B.C.
Heracleotic (mouth of the Nile), 171. Most westerly and largest, not far from Alexandria.
^a Heraclitus, 100. Ancient representative of pessimism, “the weeping philosopher,” of Ephesus, toward end of sixth century B.C.
Herculaneum, 221 (2), 259.
^a Homer, 258.
Horizon, 211.
Hostius Quadra, 42. Unknown save for Seneca’s unfortunate mention of him.
Hydissus, 132. Orthography of this Carian town is uncertain; Gercke reads Idumus.
Hydraulic organs, 56.
I
Iapygian (Wind), 211.
Ice, 140.
India, 7, 212, 215.
Intermittent action, 128.
Iron, discovery of, 45;
money made of, 46.
Islands, floating, 139.
Ister (or Hister), a name of the Danube, which see.
Italy, 110, 117, 133, 212, 261, 262 (adj.), 263.
J
Junior, see Lucilius, 168.
Jupiter (Jove), temple of, in African desert (Ammon), 78;
his thunderbolts, 88, 89, 91, 92;
affords lessons to earthly rulers, 90;
other names for, 91, 92.
Jupiter, the planet, 284, 299.
L
Lacedaemonians, 189. Lacedaemon, or Sparta, was in Laconia, the district in the S.E. of Southern Greece.
Ladon, 257. River in Arcadia, tributary of Alpheus.
Laelius, 268. Friend of the younger Scipio Africanus, consul 140 B.C. Chief interlocutor in Cicero’s Dialogue on Friendship.
Lakes, with dense water, 138, 139;
underground, 154;
wide extent of some, 233.
Land and sea breezes, 198.
Landslips, 238, 249, 251;
effects of, 253.
Latin, 210 (2).
Leo (sign of the Zodiac), 301.
Lepidus, 166 (3). Formed with Augustus and Antony the Second Triumvirate after Caesar’s assassination in 44 B.C.
Libonotus (Wind), 210.
Libyan (Wind), 210.
Life, the proper conduct in, 112, 159, 266;
uncertainty of, 226;
to be carried in our hand if we desire to live happy and without fear, 266.
Lightning, 62, 66, 69, 86, 87, 100;
effects of, 78, 87, 88, 96;
portents indicated by, 79, 81, 82, 86, 92, 94, 95, 215;
possible pestilential power in, 97;
cause of zigzag course of, 102;
moral lessons to be derived from a consideration of, 104;
safe retreats from, 223;
blinding effects of, 292;
connected with the planets, 275.
^a Livy (Titus Livius), 209, 213. Roman historian, 59 B.C.-17.
Lower Sea; see Propontis.
Lucilius Junior, 1, 103, 109, 114, 142, 159 (2), 161, 162, 163, 217, 221, 265, 267, 268. See Introduction.
Luxury, introduction of, 45, 46;
growth of, 47, 188;
illustrations of, 129, 187;
denunciation of, 130, 187, 306.
Lycia, 140. District S.W. of Asia Minor.
Lycus, 142. River, probably of Phrygia in Asia Minor, flowing into the Maeander.
Lydia, 139. District in W. of Asia Minor.
Lyncestis, 134.
M
Macedonia, 138, 207, 224, 303.
Magnesia, 122. Town of Lydia.
Mankind, compared to ants, 6;
early ages of, 45, 46;
final destruction of, 147, 152;
re-creation of, after the deluge, 155;
world not made only for, 305.
Marmora or Marmara (Sea of); see Propontis.
Mars, the planet, 10, 275, 284.
Marseilles, 174.
Marshes, 233;
of the Nile, 236.
Magalenopolis (or Megalepolis or Megalopolis), 257. Town in Arcadia.
Melas, 137. River of Boeotia in Central Greece.
Memphis, 170. Great Egyptian city a little above Cairo.
^a Menander, 165. Athenian comic poet, 342–291 B.C.
Mercury, the planet, 284.
Messalina, 163. Third wife of Emperor Claudius;
put to death by Narcissus, 48.
Messana (Messina), 142.
Metalliferous veins, 126.
Metals, melted by lightning, 78, 96;
denunciation of the search for the precious, 207, 215.
Meteorology (Sublimia), scope of, 51.
Meteors, 8–11, 37, 38, 40, 275, 276, 292, 293, 296.
^a Metrodorus (of Chios), 248 (2). Philosopher who flourished about 330 B.C. “Sceptic.” Disciple of Democritus, perhaps.
Milky Way, 289.
Mind, the human, its nature and seat unknown, 297.
Mines, water in, 154;
ancient, explored by Philip of Macedon, 207.
Mirrors, 22, 23, 24, 27, 41, 42, 44, 45, 47.
Mock-suns, 35.
Moon, eclipse of, 298;
varying colour of, 300.
Moral reflections, Seneca’s, 1–8, 42, 44–47, 102–105, 109–114, 130–132, 143–156, 159–166, 186–190, 207, 213–217, 222–229, 254, 265–268.
Mountains, insignificance of height of, compared with the whole mass of the earth, 184.
Mushrooms, 189.
Mylae, 142. Town on N. coast of Sicily, near Messina.
Myndus, 274, 290. Town in Caria.
N
Naples, partly damaged by earthquake of A.D. 63, 221.
Narcissus, 164. Freedman of Claudius, put to death by Agrippina, 54.
Natural Philosophy, 3, 8.
Nature, influence of, 3;
origin of, 7;
as a synonym for God, 92;
advantage of the study of, 113, 265;
finds no task hard, 144, 154;
inadequate conceptions of, 228;
study of, the highest pursuit, 230;
power of variation in, 301;
inexhaustibility of, 306;
still most imperfectly known, 306.
Naval wars denounced, 213.
Nebaioth, 208. An Arabian people, put for East in general. Latin form is Nabataei.
Neptune (Earthshaker), 255.
^a Nero Caesar, 25, 235, 290, 294;
probably referred to, though not named, 90 (last two sentences).
Nicopolis, 259. City in W. of Greece at entrance to Ambracian Gulf. The word means “city of victory,” something like our oft-recurrent “Victoria.”
Nile, unusual character of, 114, 135, 166;
physiological effect of water of, 140;
rise of, 141, 167, 169, 172;
course of, 168, 170, 233;
cataracts of, 168;
mode of descent of, 169;
delta of, 170, 171;
canalisation of, 170;
deposit of, 170, 258;
inundation of, 171;
supposed underground supply of, 235;
Nero’s expedition to the, 235;
transport of sediment by, 258.
Nonacris, 137. Town in Arcadia.
Notus (Wind), 209.
Nuceria, 221. Town in Campania.
O
Ocean, 6 (2), 112, 119, 135, 143, 153, 155, 231, 254 (2), 266.
^a Oenopides (of Chios), 175. Mathematician and astronomer, probably contemporary of Anaxagoras, fifth century B.C.
Olympic, 142 (2). Olympia was in Elis.
Olympus, 257. High mountain in Thessaly, Northern Greece.
Omens, arranged by Providence, 80;
from lightning, 82.
Organs (hydraulic), 56.
Ossa, 257. Mountain in Thessaly, Northern Greece.
Ostia, 41. Town at mouth of Tiber; port of Rome.
^a Ovid, 114, 133, 148, 165, 168. Latin poet, 43 B.C.-18.
P
Parhelia, 35.
Pamphylia, 211. District on S. of Asia Minor.
^a Panaetius, 304. Stoic philosopher of Rhodes, friend of Laelius and the younger Scipio Africanus; died 111 B.C.
Paphos, 259. Town on W. of Cyprus.
Parium, 22. Town in Mysia on N.W. of Asia Minor.
Parthians, 5, 215.
Paterculus, 303. His consulship is said to have been in the year 60.
Patras, 257. Town at entrance of Gulf of Corinth.
Paulus, 9. L. Aemilius P., consul 181 and 168 B.C.
Peacock, analogy from colours of, 25.
Peloponnesian (War), 256, 258. Lasted 431–404 B.C. between Athens and Sparta.
Peneüs, 138, 257. Great river draining the plain of Thessaly and flowing through vale of Tempe between Olympus and Ossa; now called Salambria.
Perseus, 9. Last king of Macedonia, 178–168 B.C.
Persia, 208, 215.
Persians, 254.
Pestilential vapours emitted from the ground, 260, 261.
Pharos, 258. Island off Alexandria with famous lighthouse, united to mainland by Alexander the Great.
Phasis, 174. River of Colchis at E. of Black Sea.
Philae, 168 (3), 169. Island in the Nile, just below First Cataract. Seneca seems to confuse it with the so-called island of Meroë, at the junction of the Blue Nile and Atbara.
Philip, 110, 207 (2). Father of Alexander the Great; king of Macedonia 359–336 B.C.
Philosophers, debt due to the early, 230;
credulous folk, 258;
severe criticisms of, 125, 175, 288, 289.
Philosophy, divisions of, 3;
pleasures of, 4, 5;
benefits conferred by, 97;
delivers its votaries from fear, 225;
rewards of, 229;
decadence of, 307, 308.
^a Pindar, 258. Greek poet, 522–442 B.C.
Pithitae, or pithiae (meteors), 38, 40.
Plancus, 160. L. Munatius P., a prominent actor in the civil wars, 48–31 B.C.
Planets, colours of, 10;
enumerated, 275;
fixed number of, 284;
orbits of, 285;
motions of, 288;
possibly greater number of, 297;
conspicuous movements of, 298.
^a Plato, 216.
Pollux, 11; see Castor.
Pompeii, 221, 259 (2).
Pompey, 166 (3). Defeated by Caesar 48 B.C., and assassinated shortly after.
Pontus (district in N.E. of Asia Minor), 141.
Pontus (Black Sea), 153, 176, 180 (?).
Portents from meteors, 9, 228, 259;
lightning, 79, 86, 93, 94, 95, 215;
eclipses, 228;
comets, 272, 290, 302.
^a Posidonius, 26, 27, 73, 74, 98 (2), 177, 246, 252, 256, 292, 293. A very distinguished Stoic philosopher, president of that school. Instructor for a time and friend of Cicero. Prosecuted physical investigations with great success. Native of Syria. Lived 135–51 B.C.
Posterity, great increase of knowledge to be attained by, 298.
Predestination, 85.
Prognostications; see Portents.
Propontis (Sea of Marmora), 153, 176 (Lower Sea).
Providence, 92, 213.
Puteoli, 133. On coast of Campania.
Pylades, 307. A Cilician; a dancer like Bathyllus.
Pyrenees, 5.
^a Pyrrho, 307. Founder of the sect of the Sceptics, native of Elis; flourished about fourth century B.C.
^a Pythagoras, 307. Flourished in second half of sixth century B.C.
Pyx, trial of, 180.
R
Rain, Seneca’s observation on descent of, into soil, 117;
share of, in final destruction of the world, 143, 144, 149;
seasonal variations of, 179;
supposed to be influenced by incantations, 182.
Rainbow, 16–33.
Rainless countries, 167, 173.
Red Sea, 112, 153, 168.
Regulus, 221. Consul 63.
Reverence, duty of, 304.
Rhaetian, 35. The reference is to wine grown in the N. of Italy (Cisalpine Gaul).
Rhine, 146 (2), 173, 233.
Rhodians, 142. Island of Rhodes was at S.W. of Asia Minor.
Rhone, 146, 173.
Rivers as political boundaries, 5, 233;
sources of supply of, 116;
underground, 132, 141, 206, 207, 233, 235;
summer rise of, 141, 173.
Roman, 5, 12, 46, 110, 113, 166.
Rome, 110, 166, 182, 209, 307.
Roots, disruptive force of, 57.
Rulers, counsel to, 90.
S
Sacrifice cannot alter fate, 84;
to keep off hail, 181.
St. Elmo’s Fire, 11, 37.
^a Sallust, 279. Roman historian, 86–34 B.C.
Sarmatian, 5, 233 (pl.). Roughly speaking, the S. part of Russia.
Saturn, the planet, 275 (2), 284, 303.
Scipio, 46 (2). The elder Sc. Africanus, victor of Hannibal at Zama, 202 B.C.
Scironian (Wind), 211.
Scylla, 153; see Charybdis.
Scythia, 180, 208. Term used very loosely of region in Central and Northern Asia, but at times extending to Europe, as far west as the Danube. Sarmatia of one age was part of Scythia of another.
Sea, unity of the, 125;
coeval with the world, 135;
throws ashore ill-smelling deposits, 142;
share of, in final destruction of the earth, 143, 150;
current of, from Black Sea, 176;
subterranean, 234.
Sea and land breezes, 198.
Seafaring, condemned, 216.
Sea-water, purged of its salt within the earth, 116.
Sejanus, 9. Notorious instrument of Tiberius; put to death 31.
Sela (gleams in the sky), 39.
Self, bondage of slavery to, 113.
Septemtrio (Wind), 210.
^a Sextii, 307. Father and son in the time of Augustus and Nero respectively; taught a combination of Stoic and Pythagorean doctrines.
Sheep, destruction of, during Campanian earthquake of A.D. 63, 259.
Sicily and Sicilian, 114, 138, 142 (2), 153, 159, 166 (2), 235, 262, 263.
Sidon, 256.
Snow, melting in Ethiopia erroneously supposed to be the cause of the annual rise of the Nile, 173;
supplies some European rivers, 173;
on European mountains, 173;
origin of, 178, 179, 182, 186;
said to feel colder to the feet when dry and hard than when slushy and half melted, 180;
artificial use of, 187.
^a Sophocles, 172.
Soul, divine origin of, 6;
to be rescued from error and fear of death, 103.
Sound less rapid than light, 64.
Spain and Spanish, 6, 7, 110, 263.
Springs, 118, 121, 127, 136, 142.
Squalls, origin of, 204;
short duration of, 281.
Stabiae, 221. Small town on coast of Campania.
Stars, fed by emanations from the earth, 55, 198, 244;
influence of, in human affairs, 81;
nature of, 273;
transits of, 284;
supposed small size of, 288;
place of, in sky, 297;
varying colours of, 300.
Stars, falling, 10, 11, 37, 99, 296.
Statonia, 139. Town in Etruria, about 15 miles from the coast.
Stoics, 32, 40, 58, 66, 95, 119, 124, 135, 151, 180, 181 (2), 210, 251, 291, 292, 293, 295 (my school).
^a Strato, 240. Succeeded Theophrastus as head of the Peripatetic school in 288 B.C. Native of Lampsacus in Mysia on the Hellespont.
Streaks in the sky, 33.
Strymon, 5. River of Thrace and Macedonia (Struma). The text of the passage is very doubtful.
Styx, 137. River in Arcadia.
Submergence of Helice and Buris, 254, 257, 259, 267, 276, 289;
of Atalanta, 256;
of Sidon, 256;
of other cities and nations, 267.
Subsolane (Wind), 209.
Sudd, 236 n.
Sulphur, baneful effects of, in water, 134;
supposed to warm water, 136;
exists in large quantity underground, 206.
“Sulphur smell” produced by lightning, 69, 97.
Sun, size of, 20, 288;
eclipse of, 35, 274, 284, 293;
draws his sustenance from the earth, 55, 198, 244;
movements of, 271;
among the constellations, 301.
Superstition, 271.
Surrentum, 221. Town on promontory in Campania.
Syracuse, 12, 142.
Syria, 138, 288.
T
Tempe, 137. Vale or gorge in Thessaly; see Peneüs.
Temperature of atmosphere, 60, 183, 184;
of various waters, 136.
Tension, effects of, 56, 58.
Tentyra, 172. Island in the Nile (Denderah), not far from Thebes.
^a Thales, 124, 125, 174, 233. Of Miletus; may be considered the father of Greek philosophy, 636–546 B.C.
Thebes, 257. Capital of Boeotia. There was a more ancient city of the same name in Upper Egypt on whose site are the modern Luxor, Karnak, etc.
^a Theophrastus 122 (3), 129, 138, 139, 141, 172, 240, 303. Of Lesbos, favourite pupil and successor of Aristotle, head of Peripatetic school, 322–287 B.C.
Therasia and There (Thera), 252. Small volcanic islands in the group called Sporades, S. of Cyclades.
Thessaly, 137, 257.
Thrace and Thracians, 5, 161, 173, 254.
^a Thucydides, 256, 258.
Thunderings, 62, 67;
different kinds of, 75;
causes of, 98.
Tiberius Caesar, 41.
Tigris, 142, 235.
Time, wasting influence of, 238, 253;
fleetingness of, 268.
Trade to Atlantic ports, 175.
Transmutation of the elements, 120, 121.
Troglodytes, 173. Cave-dwellers, specially applied to tribes on W. of Red Sea.
Tuscans; see Etruscans.
Tyre and Tyrian, 27, 224, 225.
U
Unity or continuity, defined, 53.
Universe, defined, 54;
impetuous whirl of, 273;
ceaseless revolution of, 281, 294, 299;
a harmony of discords, 301.
V
Vacuum, non-existent in nature, 128.
Vadimonian (Lake), 139. In Etruria, not far from the Tiber, the Lago di Bassano, now dried up.
^a Vagellius, 227. Name unknown, probably corrupt.
Valerius Asiaticus, 74. Consul, for the second time, in 46.
^a Varro, 209 (2). Famous grammarian, antiquarian, etc., 116–28 B.C.
Venus, the planet, 284.
Vice, conquest of, leads to highest happiness, 5;
continued progress of, 46, 187, 306, 307.
^a Virgil, 28, 35, 114, 142, 165, 209, 241, 253, 258.
Virginius, 221. Consul 63.
Vitellius, 160. Name doubtful; may refer to father of Emperor Vitellius, who flourished under Caligula and Claudius, being consul in 34.
Volcanic eruptions, 73, 74, 77, 252.
Vopiscus, 303. Consul 60.
Vultur, 209. Mountain on borders of Apulia.
Vulturnus (Wind), 209.
W
Wars, denunciation of, 213, 214.
Water, forms of, 114, 115, 233;
transformed into air, 120;
formed from earth, 120;
as one of the four elements, 124;
Thales’ opinions on, 124, 231;
underground sources of, 126, 233, 234, 235;
various tastes of, 133;
petrifying powers of, 133;
varying temperatures of, 136;
artificial heating of, 136;
baneful kinds of, 137;
dyeing properties of some kinds of, 137;
varying densities of, 138;
supposed physiological effects of some, 140;
in mines, 154;
produces animal and plant life, 197;
as the cause of earthquakes, 231, 233, 234.
Watergalls and sun-dogs, 33.
Weather indications, 11, 14, 15, 28, 37, 39, 75, 181, 275, 302, 303.
Wells and their water-supply, 118, 123, 128;
warm winter temperature of, 176, 241.
Whirlwinds, 204, 275, 276, 278, 279, 280, 281, 282.
Will, freedom of the, 85, 86.
Wind, definition of, 193;
Democritus’ view of origin of, 194;
origin of, 196, 200, 203, 204;
within the earth, 205, 206, 239, 243, 244;
number and names of the winds, 208–212;
teleological design of, 212, 216;
misuse of, by man, 216;
beneficial influences of, 216;
disruptive energy of, 252.
Winds, 208–211. The following are specified: Africus, Aquilo, Argestes, Atabulus, Auster, Ἀφηλιώτης (= Subsolane), Boreas, Cataegis, Circius, Corus, Etesian, Euronotus, Eurus, Favonius, Iapygian, Καικίας, Libonotus, Libyan, Notus, Scironian, Septemtrio, Subsolane, Thracias, Vulturnus, Zephyrus.
Wine, frozen by lightning, 79, 97.
World, revolution of, 20.
Z
^a Zeno, 291. Native of Cyprus, founder of the Stoic philosophy, lived between middle of fourth and third centuries B.C.
Zephyrus (Wind), 208.
Zodiac, 285, 291, 296.

Physical science in the time of Nero

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INDEX TO THE “QUAESTIONES NATURALES”