I am sharing this quote because it is a fascinatingly fresh scene from ancient Rome and because it serves as a great illustration of what kind of work Seneca's "Natural questions" is. I can easily imagine Seneca taking time to sit and watch a launderer to see what he can learn and perhaps put into his writings :-)
"Another explanation is given for the rainbow as follows: when a pipe bursts at some point, we see water forced out through the tiny hole; when it is sprayed against the obliquely angled sun, it displays the form of a rainbow. You will see the same thing happening if you ever feel like watching a launderer: when he has filled his mouth with water and lightly sprays the clothes that are spread out on stretching-frames, you can see various colors produced in the air that is filled with spray, like the ones that normally shine in a rainbow".
The quote is from Harry Hines' wonderful translation of "Natural questions" published by Chicago University Press in 2010 as part of the series "The complete works of Lucius Annaeus Seneca" ed. by Elizabeth Asmis, Shadi Bartsch and Martha C. Nussbaum.
A philosopher learns from everyday life
The quote is from Harry Hines' wonderful translation of "Natural questions" published by Chicago University Press in 2010 as part of the series "The complete works of Lucius Annaeus Seneca" ed. by Elizabeth Asmis, Shadi Bartsch and Martha C. Nussbaum.