17 Facts About Etymologiae

Etymologiae, known as the Origines and usually abbreviated Orig.

Etymologiae was the most used textbook throughout the Middle Ages.

Etymologiae was printed in at least ten editions between 1472 and 1530, after which its importance faded in the Renaissance.

Etymologiae is less well known in modern times though modern scholars recognize Etymologiae for its importance both in the preservation of classical texts and for the insight it offers into the medieval mindset.

Etymologiae was familiar with the works of both the church fathers and pagan writers such as Martial, Cicero and Pliny the Elder, this last the author of the major encyclopaedia then in existence, the Natural History.

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Etymologiae started to put together a collection of his knowledge, the Etymologies, in about 600, and continued to write until about 625.

Books XII, XIII and XIV are largely based on Pliny the Elder's Natural History and Solinus, whereas the lost Prata of Suetonius, which can be partly pieced together from what is quoted in Etymologiae, seems to have inspired the general plan of the work, as well as many of its details.

Etymologiae covers the letters of the alphabet, parts of speech, accents, punctuation and other marks, shorthand and abbreviations, writing in cipher and sign language, types of mistake and histories.

Etymologiae equates the Greek term syllogism with the Latin term argumentation, which he derives from the Latin for "clear mind" .

Etymologiae argues that there are infinitely many numbers, as you can always add one to whatever number you think is the limit.

Etymologiae derives the curved vault of the heavens from the Latin word for "upside-down" .

Etymologiae explains eclipses of the sun as the moon coming between the earth and the sun and eclipses of the moon as happening when it runs into the shadow of the earth.

Etymologiae condemns the Roman naming of the planets after their gods: Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, Venus, and Mercury.

Etymologiae derives the word medicine from the Latin for "moderation", and "sciatica" from the affected part of the body, the hip .

Etymologiae discusses the purpose of law, legal cases, witnesses, offences and penalties.

Etymologiae was cited by Dante Alighieri, quoted by Geoffrey Chaucer, and his name was mentioned by the poets Boccaccio, Petrarch and John Gower among others.

In 1472 at Augsburg, Etymologiae became one of the first books to be printed, quickly followed by ten more editions by 1500.