Claudius Aelianus facts for kids
Claudius Aelianus (pronounced EE-lee-an), who lived from about 175 to 235 AD, was a Roman author and teacher. He was born in a place called Praeneste (now Palestrina, Italy). Aelian was very good at speaking Greek, so people called him "honey-tongued." Even though he was Roman, he loved Greek writers and wrote his own books in a slightly old-fashioned Greek style.
His two main books are very important because they include many quotes from older writers whose works are now lost. They also share surprising facts and stories that give us a peek into how people in ancient Greece and Rome saw the world. Aelian's work is also the only ancient Greek or Roman book to mention Gilgamesh, a famous hero from an even older story.
On the Nature of Animals
On the Nature of Animals (in Latin, De Natura Animalium) is a collection of short stories about animals. It has seventeen books. Some stories teach a moral lesson, while others are just amazing or strange.
This book is described as a fun collection of facts and made-up tales about animals. It makes readers think about how humans and animals are different or similar.
Aelian's animal stories usually came from other books, not from him watching animals himself. He used writings from famous authors like Pliny the Elder and others whose works are now gone. This makes his book a valuable source for us today. He seemed especially interested in sea creatures and often quoted "fishermen." Sometimes, he believed everything he heard, but other times he would say he was just reporting what others told him, and he didn't necessarily believe it himself. Aelian's work was an important source for natural history books and bestiaries (books about real and mythical animals) in the Middle Ages.
Various History
Various History (in Latin, Varia Historia) is Aelian's other well-known book. Most of it has survived, but in a shorter form. It's a mix of interesting stories, short biographies, lists, wise sayings, and descriptions of strange natural wonders and local customs.
This book has 14 parts and offers many surprises for people who study culture and myths. It includes stories about famous Greek philosophers, poets, historians, and playwrights. It also retells myths in a way that teaches lessons. The book focuses on many different moral stories about heroes, rulers, athletes, and wise people. It also talks about food, drinks, clothing styles, ways of giving gifts, entertainment, religious beliefs, and death customs. Aelian even describes fly fishing using fake flies made of red wool and feathers, and mentions lacquerwork and snake worship.
Various History was first printed in 1545. It's like an ancient magazine, full of different kinds of articles. Aelian might not always be perfectly accurate in every detail. His writing was also influenced by Stoic ideas, which was a type of ancient philosophy.
Other works
We also have parts of two other books by Aelian: On Providence and Divine Manifestations. These were saved in an old encyclopedia called the Suda. He is also thought to have written twenty "letters from a farmer." These letters were made-up stories written to a pretend friend. They describe scenes of farm and country life in ancient Greece. However, Aelian once said he had never left Italy or been on a ship. This makes it unlikely he saw the places he described in the letters.
See also
- Historiae animalium by Gessner
