Etymologiae

The Etymologiae (Etymologies) is a Latin work by Isidore of Seville (l. c. 560 - 636 CE), compiled in the early 7th century CE and published in its final form shortly after his death. The book is a type of medieval encyclopedia and is a survey of important knowledge and learning from the ancient world. Its content is largely derived from older Roman and early Christian texts, some of which were compilations of older material still. The Etymologiae was an extremely important book for the transmission of knowledge from the ancient world in medieval Europe. Some of the material contained in the work might otherwise have been lost, had Isidore not undertaken the monumental task of writing his encyclopedia.