The Etymologies of Isidore of Seville

by Isidore of Seville, Stephen A. Barney, W.J. Lewis (Editor)

This work is a complete English translation of the Latin Etymologies of Isidore, Bishop of Seville (c.560 - 636). Isidore compiled the work between c.615 and the early 630s and it takes the form of an encyclopedia, arranged by subject matter. It contains much lore of the late classical world beginning with the Seven Liberal Arts, including Rhetoric, and touches on thousands of topics ranging from the names of God, the terminology of the Law, the technologies of fabrics, ships and agriculture to the names of cities and rivers, the theatrical arts, and cooking utensils. Isidore provides etymologies for most of the terms he explains, finding in the causes of words the underlying key to their meaning. This book offers a highly readable translation of the twenty books of the Etymologies, one of the most widely known texts for a thousand years from Isidore's time.

Genres: History, Philosophy, Reference, Medieval, Nonfiction, Classics, Religion

488 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 630

About the author

Isidoro de Sevilla fue un eclesiástico católico erudito polímata hispano de la época visigoda. Fue arzobispo de Sevilla durante más de tres décadas. Es venerado como santo por la Iglesia católica y contado entre los Padres de la Iglesia. También es uno de los Cuatro Santos de Cartagena.


Saint Isidore of Seville (Latin: Isidorus Hispalensis; c.560 - 636) served as Archbishop of Seville for more than three decades and is considered, as the 19th-century historian Montalembert put it in an oft-quoted phrase, "The last scholar of the ancient world".

Source: Wikipedia

Reviews

[Brandon Hawk · Rating 4 out of 5]

As one of the most influential texts throughout the Middle Ages (next to the Bible, perhaps the single most influential work), Isidore's Etymologies stands as a monument to literary history. Little needs to be said about this except to acknowledge the fundamental contribution this book offered to Western thought. It is for this reason that the work of Stephen A. Barney, et al., should be commended: this full English translation offers an accessible, convenient, and overall well-put-together book.

While, from a scholarly position, it may be problematic that the translations sometimes diverge too much from the Latin (based on Lindsay's 1911 edition--the most recent and comprehensive, despite its age; indeed, a new edition is long overdue, although Barney, et al., deal with this problem in stride), the rendering is generally faithful to the Latin. The benefit of this work is still in the accessibility, and it does provide a base translation for comparison of the Latin. Perhaps one of the most helpful aspects is the inclusion of original Greek and Latin words in parentheses throughout the text; thus readers may better understand the etymological techniques and the play of words in Isidore's style. Also helpful are footnotes throughout the book, which clarify translations, sources, and other noteworthy observations. Also significant is the translation of letters written between Isidore and Braulio, which provide both context for the Etymologies and insight into Isidore's personality.

Beyond the translation itself, the introduction provides particularly helpful background information on the historical contexts, Isidore's biography, his goals and techniques, and his influence. Furthermore, the bibliography, though introductory, provides references to the most helpful scholarly studies.

[J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn't really a book one reads for enjoyment, it's basically a 6th century Wikipedia combining aspects of Greek and Roman writing, along with the Bible, to try and craft an encyclopedia of the world. There are many very interesting entries, and then others are simply 1 word entries, it largely depended on what Isidore had to work with as the book was being assembled. If anything, the book is mainly interesting as a way to better understand how the well education at the time saw their world.

[Sams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Acomplejados por años de servilismo cultural hacia el resto de Occidente, a veces se nos olvida que el mayor compendio de sabiduría clásica se escribió en esa Hispania romano-visigoda.

Una enciclopedia antes de la Enciclopedia ilustrada.

Un libro que continúa el fluir de la cultura clásica y la actualiza a un mundo distinto al Antiguo pero que todavía perdura (pese al extendido mindset de que la Edad Media es una época oscura).

La wikipedia del s. VI.

[John Cairns · Rating 4 out of 5]

The introduction interested me because I wasn't au fait with the historical background, actually thinking Isidore would be an Arab. I did know of the Byzantine reconquest of a bit of Spain that Isidore is okay about seeing retaken by the Visigothic kings he's subject to while regarding himself as a Latin speaking Roman, living under Roman law, probably.

I took one look at the first page of the Etymologies and thought it'd be tedious but it was the reverse, because I'm interested in words and their etymology, my first book being before I could read an etymological dictionary.

Isidore's a Christian and I took from his exposition a deeper understanding of Christianity, almost to the point of finding it believable. Including religion, he's summing up all preceding Latin Roman civilisation to the extent he regards Constantinople as Rome's only equal though by this time because of the wars of reconquest by Belisarius the city would be largely empty and no match at all for the imperial capital. There's some indication of his present in the shift in pronunciation of Latin but nothing about the circumstances of living then in 7th century Spain. You do get a very good feel and insight though into Roman past life throughout its tenure and the heavy Greek influence. I've come away with a better understanding of how like the Romans were to us in their improvising ways with language and how much my language derives from theirs and Greek.

[Nicola Griffith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book. I can't praise it highly enough. This was the Wikipedia of Bede's time (and Hild's, though I'm not sure Hild would have seen it). Want to know why architects used green Carystean marble to panel libraries, or whether amber is born of the sap of poplar or pine? Look no further.

It's basically full of mnemonic devices to aid students (of any age, and age). And witty--in places.

[☾ · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5/5) Esta enciclopedia medieval, contiene mucha información valiosa, ya que además de presentarnos las etimologías de varias palabras, también nos muestra las creencias de algunas personas en la época medieval, junto con su forma de entender el mundo. Es muy importante ya que recopila la mayoría de los conocimientos que se tenían hasta esa época, y si son aficionados de la cultura medieval, no deberían dejar pasar esta lectura.

[Cosmo van Steenis · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the most influential works of the early medieval period. A grammatica explaining the origins and meaning of words. Isidore is particularly concerned with the power of words to communicate worldly and divine messages: ‘letters are tokens of things, the signs of words and they have so much force that the utterances of those who are absent speak to us without a voice.’ I was particularly interested in his statement about medicine: ‘by philosophy the soul is cured; by medicine, the body.' Would have been nice to have the latin opposite the translation but a fascinating, insightful read nonetheless.

[Maggy L · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ancient world wasn't dumb. Isidore's way of deducing the world from base principles and language shows is fascinating.

[Lucía]

This looks amazing.