The Survival of Pliny in Padua. Transforming Classical Scholarship during the Botanical Renaissance

During the Botanical Renaissance, ancient botanical texts, particularly those by Pliny, underwent a transformation in their role within the discipline. They served as both organizational principles for botanical knowledge and authoritative sources for medical botany, despite being increasingly challenged for accuracy and completeness. This shift not only shaped scholarly competencies but also brought commercial benefits, enhancing the reputation of Padua and the Venetian government. The study focuses on Andrea Mattioli's commentary, which includes a section on the divinity of nature based on Pliny, highlighting the evolving relationship between classical scholarship and botanical practice during this period.

de Beer, S. (2014). The Survival of Pliny in Padua. Transforming Classical Scholarship during the Botanical Renaissance. Transformations of the Classics via Early Modern Commentaries, 327–362. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004260788_013