Tertiary sourceDocumentary26 February 2024

Reading of Leviathan's Preface in Latin

Onagrus · 26 February 2024

A modern audio-video reading of the Latin preface to Hobbes's Leviathan, made as a study aid rather than a historical recording.

A modern reading of the Latin preface to Hobbes's own work, useful as a study aid for his writing.

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Onagrus, reading of the Latin preface of Hobbes's Leviathan, 2024. Modern recording, not Hobbes's own voice.

About this source

What it is

This is a 2024 video recording of someone reading aloud the preface of Leviathan in Latin, using the text from a modern scholarly edition edited by Noel Malcolm. It is not a recording from Hobbes's own time.

Why it matters

Leviathan is one of Thomas Hobbes's most important works of political philosophy, and Hobbes himself wrote a Latin version of it. Hearing the Latin read aloud can help students understand how the text sounded and was studied by scholars across Europe.

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This documentary is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Thomas Hobbes on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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Engraved title page of Hobbes's Leviathan: a giant crowned figure made of many tiny people holds a sword and crozier over a landscape of hills and a city. Below, a central banner bears the title and author's name, flanked by vignettes of castle, church, crown, mitre, cannon, weapons, battle, and a council.

Primary source

Leviathan

Thomas Hobbes · 1651

Engraved frontispiece of the 1642 Paris edition of Hobbes's De Cive. Top panel shows a crowded scene of figures in clouds and a fiery landscape with a winged angel and a group of people. Bottom panel has a central banner titled Elementorum Philosophiae Sectio Tertia De Cive with Latin text, flanked by a crowned female figure holding scales labeled Imperium and a figure with a bow and spear labeled Libertas, with a landscape and the word Religio across the middle.

Primary source

De Cive

Thomas Hobbes · 1642

Line engraving portrait of Thomas Hobbes, a man with long wavy hair, a large white collar, and dark robes, shown in an oval frame inscribed with his name in Latin. Below is a Latin inscription and the printer's line 'London, Printed for Will. Crooke'.

Secondary source

Portrait of Thomas Hobbes, Line Engraving

Primary source

The Elements of Law

Thomas Hobbes · 1640

Engraved title page reading 'The Workes of Homer Engl: by T: Hobbes', with a bust of Homer above, two armoured warriors with spears flanking the title, and an oval portrait of Hobbes below. Imprint reads London, printed for W. Crooke, 1677.

Secondary source

Title Page of The Workes of Homer, Translated by Thomas Hobbes

1677

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