Aetna and the Moon: Explaining Nature in Ancient Greece and Rome

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Exploring the intersection of science and literature, Liba Taub investigates how ancient Greeks and Romans conveyed scientific concepts through both prose and poetry. This inaugural volume in the Horning Visiting Scholars Series highlights the unique role of poetry in discussing scientific topics, challenging the notion that rational thought necessitated a departure from poetic expression. Taub analyzes the Latin poem Aetna, which describes the science of Mount Etna, and Plutarch's dialogue On the Face on the Moon, which contrasts scientific and mythological explanations.