The historie of the vvorld: commonly called, The naturall historie of C. Plinius Secundus. Translated into English by Philemon Holland Doctor of Physicke. The first [-second] tome

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Title
The historie of the vvorld: commonly called, The naturall historie of C. Plinius Secundus. Translated into English by Philemon Holland Doctor of Physicke. The first [-second] tome
Author
Pliny, the Elder.
Publication
London :: Printed by Adam Islip,
1634.
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Subject terms
Natural history -- Pre-Linnean works.
Link to this Item
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A09763.0001.001
Cite this Item
"The historie of the vvorld: commonly called, The naturall historie of C. Plinius Secundus. Translated into English by Philemon Holland Doctor of Physicke. The first [-second] tome." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A09763.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 14, 2025.

Pages

CHAP. XII.

¶ The first deuisers of the art of Potterie, and in working in cley. Of Images made of earth. Of ear∣then vessels, and their value in old time.

NOw that I haue discoursed of painting enough, if not too much, it were good to annexe and joyne thereto the craft of Potterie, and working out of cley. And to begin with the o∣riginal and inuention of making the image or likenesse of any thing in cley, it is said, that Dibutades, a Sicyonian born, and a Potter, was the first that deuised at Corinth to form an image in the same clay whereof he made his pots, by the occasion and means of a daughter which hee had: who being in loue with a certain yong man, whensoeuer he was to take a long iourney far from home, vsed ordinarily to mark vpon the wal the shadow of her louers face by candle light and to pourfill the same afterwards deeper, that so she might inioy his visage yet in his absence. This her father perceiuing, followed those tracts, and by clapping cley therupon, perceiued that it took a print, and made a sensible forme of a face: which when hee saw, hee put it into the fur∣nace to bake among other vessels, & when it was hardned, shewed it abroad. And it is said, that

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this very piece remained in the bains of Corinth safe, vntill Mummius destroied the city. How∣beit, [unspec G] writers there be who affirme, That Rhoecus and Theodorus, both of the Isle Samos, were the first inuentors of this feat of forming shapes in cley, long before the expulsion of the * 1.1 Bacchia∣dae out of Corinth. And by their saying, when Demaratus was faine to flie out of that city, and to retire himselfe into Tuscan (where he begat Tarquinius, afterwards syrnamed Priscus, & king of Rome) there accompanied him from Corinth Eucheir and Eugramnus, two Imageurs in cley, and they taught in Italy the art of Potterie and Imagerie in that kind. As for Dibutades before∣said, the inuentor he was not of his craft; but indeed he deuised to vse with other cley and earth, a ruddle, or els to colour the white cley with madder. His inuention it was to set vp Gargils or Antiques at the top of a Gauill end, as a finiall to the crest tiles, which in the beginning he cal∣led * 1.2 Protypa. The same man afterwards deuised other counterfeits, and those be termed Ectypa: [unspec H] and hence come the louvers and lanterns reared ouer the roofs of temples, which are so curious∣ly wrought in earth. In sum, this man gaue the originall name Plastica to the craft, and Plastae, to to the craftsmen in this kind. But Lysistratus of Sicyone, and brother to Lysippus, of whom I haue written before, was the first that in plaster or Alabaster represented the shape of a mans visage in a mould from the liuely face indeed; and when hee had taken the image in waxe, which the foresaid mould of plastre had giuen, vsed to form and fashion the same more exactly. This man staied not there, but began to make images to the likenesse and resemblance of the person: for before him euery man studied only to make the fairest faces, and neuer regarded whether they were like or no. Lysistratus also inuented to make counterfeits in cley, according to the images and statues in brasse, already made. And in the end, this feat of working in cley grew to such [unspec I] height, that no images or statues were made without moulds of cley: wherby it may appear, that the skill and knowledge of Potterie is more antient than founderie or casting brasse. To come now to Imageurs in cley, Damophilus & Gorgasus were counted most excellent & principal of all others, and they were good painters besides; as may appear by the temple of Ceres in Rome, that standeth at the greatest shew-place, called Circus Maximus, which these two workmen enrich∣ed both with pictures, and also with earthen images: for in the said temple there be certaine Greek verses set vp, which testifie, That all the work on the right hand was wrought by Damo∣philus & on the left hand by Gorgasus. Before this temple was built, M. Varro saith, that all Rome was furnished with images, of Tuscan work, and no other: but of this church, when it was re-edi∣fied, the pictures vpon the wals were esteemed so rich, that people thought them worthy to bee [unspec K] cut out in great crusts and flakes out of the said wals; and for to saue them, they bestowed cost to set them in frames fair crested about the edges: also (by his report) the images wherwith the festeries & louers of the said church stood adorned, were dispersed into diuers parts of the city, as singular pieces of work, and well was he that could haue one of them. Moreouer, I reade, that Chalcosthenes made diuers pieces of work in raw cley at Athens, and the place called Ceramicos tooke the name of his work-house. And M. Varro writeth, that himselfe knew at Rome a certaine man named Posis, who was wont to make of cley, clusters of grapes, and fishes, soliuely, that who∣soeuer looked vpon them, could hardly haue discerned them by the eie from grapes and fishes indeed. The same author doth highly extoll and magnifie one Arcesilaus, a very familiar friend of Lu. Lucullus, and whom he loued very well, whose * 1.3 moulds were commonly sold dearer euen [unspec L] to workemen themselues, than the workes of others after they were finished. And hee sayth, That the image of Venus Genetrix, which standeth in the Forum of Caesar, was of his making: but before hee had fully finished the same, for haste of dedication, it was set vp vnperfect. After which time (as he affirmeth) Lu. Lucullus bargained with him to make the image of Felicitie, for which he was to haue threescore thousand Sesterces, howbeit, the death both of the one and the other, was the cause that the worke was neuer finished. As for Octauius, a knight of Rome, being minded to make a fair standing cup, hee paied to him for the mould in plastre one whole talent. The same Varro praiseth also Praxiteles, who was wont to say, that the craft of Potterie and wor∣king in cley, was the mother of Founderie, and of all workes that are cut, engrauen, chased and embossed: who, albeit hee were an excellent founder and imageur in brasse, and knew how to carue, graue, and chase passing well, yet would he neuer goe in hand to make any piece of worke, [unspec M] but he would forme it first in cley, in a mould of his own making. Moreouer, this art (by his say∣ing) was much practised in times past, in Italy and Tuscan especially: from whence, and namely out of the city Fregellae, king Tarquinius Priscus sent for one Turianus, to no other purpose in

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the world, but to agree with him for to make the image of Iupiter in earth to set it vp in the ca∣pitoll: for surely, no better he was than made of clay, and that by the hand of a porter; which [unspec A] was the reason, that they vsed to colour him ouer with vermillon: yea and the charriots with foure horses which stood vpon the lanterne of the said temple, were of no other stuffe; concer∣ning which, I haue spoken in many places. The same Turianus also made the image of Hercules, which at this day retaineth still in the city that name, which testifieth what matter he is made of. Lo, what kind of images there were in those daies made in the honour of the gods by our an∣cestors, for the most excellent! neither haue we cause to be ashamed of those our noble proge∣nitors, who worshipped such and no other. As for siluer and gold, they made no reckoning ther∣of, either about themselues or the very gods whom they worshipped: and verily, euen at this day there continue still in most places, such images of earth. As for the festiers and lanterns of tem∣ples, [unspec B] there be many of them both within the city of Rome, and also in diuers burrough townes vnder the Empire, which for curious workmanship (as it were chased and ingrauen) are admira∣ble; and for continuance of time more lasting and durable, than our louvers of gold; and for any harme they do, lesse subject I am sure to injurie. Certes in these daies, notwithstanding the infi∣nit wealth and riches that we are growne vnto, yet in all our diuine seruice and solemne sacrifi∣ces, there is no assay giuen or tast made to the gods out of Cassidoine or cristallbols, but only in earthen cups. If a man consider those things aright, & weigh them duly in particular, he shall find the bounty and goodnesse of the earth to be inenarrable, though he should not reckon her benefits that she hath bestowed vpon mankind, in yeelding vs so many sorts of corne, wine, ap∣ples, and such like fruits, herbs, shrubs, bushes, trees, medicinable drugs, mettals, and mineralls, [unspec C] which I haue already treated of: for euen in these works of earth and pottery, which we are glut∣ted with (they be so vsuall and ordinary) how beneficiall is the earth vnto vs, in yeelding vs con∣duit pipes for to conuey water into our bains, tyles flat yet hooked and made with crochets at one end to hang vpon the sides of the roofe, chamfered for to lie in gutters to shoot off water, curbed for crests to clasp the ridge on both sides; brickes to lie in wals afront for building, and those otherwhiles to serue as binders in parpine-worke with a face on both sides; to say nothing of the vessels that be turned with the wheele and wrought round; yea and great tuns and pipes of earth deuised to contain wine and water also? In regard of which stone and earthen vessels, K. Numa ordained at Rome a seuenth confraternitie of potters. Ouer and besides, many men there haue bin of good worth and reputation; who would not be burnt to ashes in a funerall fire after [unspec D] they were dead, but chose rather to haue their bodies bestowed entire within coffins of earth, lying among leaues of myrtle, oliue, and blacke poplar, after the Pythagorean fashion: in which manner, M. Varro tooke order for to be interred. And if we looke abroad into the world, most Nations vnder heauen do vse these earthen vessels: and euen still, those that be made of Samian earth and come from that Isle, are much commended for to eat our meats out of, and to be ser∣ued to the bourd: and Eretum here in Italy, retaineth yet the name for such vessell: but for drin∣king-cups, onely Surrentum, Asia, and Pollentia, within Italy; Saguntum in Spaine, and Perga∣mus in Asia, be in credit: at Tralleis also a city in Sclauonia, and Modenna (to goe no farther than Lombardie in Italy) there is made much faire vessell of earth, appropriat vnto those pla∣ces: for euen in this respect, some nations are innobled and growne into name. This earthen [unspec E] ware is of that price besides, that it is thought a commodity worth the transporting too and fro ouer land & sea, by way of merchandise. But if we speak of that kind that is wrought by turners craft with the wheele, the daintiest vessels come from Erythrae. And in very truth, such may the earth be, that much art and fine workmanship is shewed therein: in testimony whereof, there be two stone vessels or earthen (call them whether you wil) within the principal temple of that ci∣ty to be seen at this day, thought worthy to be consecrated there, in regard of their clean worke and their thinnesse besides, which a master and his prentise wrought in a strife and contention, whether of them could driue his earth thinnest: howeuer it be, they of the Island Cos are most commended for the fairest vessels of earth; and yet those of Hadria beare the name to be more durable, and of a more fast and firme constitution. And since I am entred thus far, I will obserue [unspec F] vnto you some examples of seueritie not impertinent to this discourse: I find vpon record, That Q. Ceponius was condemned and fined for an ambitious man, onely for this, because hee had sent an earth * 1.4 amphor [of wine] as a present vnto one who was to giue him his voice when he stood for an office. And that you may certainly know that vessels of earth haue in some sort

Page 554

been in request among riotous gluttons and wastfull spend thrists, listen what Fenestella saith as [unspec G] touching this point, the greatest exceeding (quoth he) and gaudiest fare at a feast, was serued vp in three platters, and was called Tripatinum: the one was of Lampreys, the second of Pikes, the third of the fish Myxon: whereby it may appeare, that euen in those daies men began at Rome to grow out of order, and to giue themselues to riot and superfluity: yet were not they so bad, but we may prefer them euen before the Philosophers of Greece: for it is written, that in the sale of Aristotles goods, which his heirs made after his decease, there were sold 60 platters, which were wont ordinarily to go about the house. As for that one platter of Aesop the plaier in tragoe∣dies, which cost six hundred thousand sesterces, I doubt not but their stomackes rise thereat when they reade thereof in my treatise as touching birds. But this is nothing (I assure you) to that charger of Vitellius, who whiles he was Emperor caused one to be made and finished that [unspec H] cost a * 1.5 million of sesterces, for the * 1.6 making wherof there was a furnace built of purpose in the field; the which I rather note, because they should see the monstrous excesse in these daies, that vessels of earth should be more costly than of Cassidonie. Alluding to this monstrous platter, Mutianus in his second Consulship (when he ripped vp in a publicke speech, the whole life of Vitellius, now dead) vpbraided the very memoriall of him in these very terms, calling his excesse that way, Patinarum paludes, i. platters as broad as pools. And verily (saith he) that platter of Vi∣tellius, came nothing behind another, which Cassius Seuerus reproched Asprenas withall, whom he accused bitterly, and said, that the poison of that one platter had killed an 130 persons who had tasted thereof.

Furthermore, there are certaine townes that are in good account by reason onely of this ves∣sell [unspec I] made therein, and namely Rhegium and Cumae.

The priests of Cybele the mother of the gods, who are called Galli, vse to gueld themselues with a sheard of Samian earth; and they be of opinion, that if it be done with any thing els, they shall die thereof, if we may beleeue M. Caelius, who whetted that tongue of his (which shortly after was in that sort to be cut out) against Vitellius; which turned to his great reproch and infa∣mie, for that himselfe euen then railed vpon Vitellius in so bad termes, and lost his tongue for his labour.

But to conclude, what is it, that Art and the wit of man hath not deuised? for there is a means found to make a strong kind of mortar or cement by the broken sheards of potters vessell, if the same be ground into powder and tempered with lime; and the ordering of it in this manner, [unspec K] causeth it to be more firme and last the longer; and such they call Signina. And hereby also men haue found out certain durable pauements of that kind.

Notes

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