Stephen A. Barney

The Etymologies of Isidore of Seville

Introduction Correspondence of Isidore and Braulio The Etymologies: I: Grammar and its parts II. Rhetoric and dialectic III. Mathematics, whose parts are arithmetic, music, geometry, and astronomy IV. Medicine V. Laws and the instruments of the judiciary, and chronology VI. The order of scripture, cycles and canons, liturgical feasts and offices VII. Gods and angels, prophetic nomenclature, names of the holy fathers, martyrs, clerics, monks, and other names VIII. Church and synagogue, religion and faith, heresies, philosophers, poets, sibyls, magicians, pagans, gods of the gentiles IX. Languages of the nations, royal, military, and civic terminology, family relationships X. Certain terms in alphabetical order XI. Human beings and their parts, the ages of humans, portents and metamorphoses XII. Four-footed animals, creeping animals, fish, and flying animals XIII. Elements, that is, the heavens and the air, waters, the sea, rivers and floods XIV. Earth, paradise, the regions of the whole globe, islands, mountains, other terms for places, and the lower regions of the earth XV. Cities, urban and rural buildings, fields, boundaries and measures of fields, roads XVI. Earthly materials from land and water, every kind of gem and precious stones, ivory likewise, treated along with marble, glass, all the metals, weights and measures XVII. Agriculture, crops of every kind, vines and trees of every kind, herbs and all vegetables XVIII. Wars and triumphs and the instruments of war, the forum, spectacles, games of chance and ball games XIX. Ships, ropes, and nets, iron workers, the construction of walls and all the implements of building, also wool-working, ornaments, and all kinds of clothing XX. Tables, foodstuffs, drink, and their vessels, vessels for wine, water, and oil, vessels of cooks, bakers, and lamps, beds, chairs, vehicles, rural and garden implements, equestrian equipment.