The following chapter of Part I is a short introduction to the philosophical tradition of Byzantium in relation to subjects of “natural history”. The Byzantine intellectuals organised compendia of such works, based on the knowledge of their ancestors. However, it is difficult to elicit original ideas, as the texts are based on ancient authors. Philosophy served as a timeless repository of knowledge for the Byzantines throughout the period, as is apparent from their writings, not least their letters. The reader is then introduced to aspects of rhetorical expression, so as to show the complex mode of intellectual communication through epistolography. Linguistic compositions, distinguishing characteristics, rhetorical topoi, proverbial phrases, and symbols of several environmental features are integrated into the texts as a dominant part of scholarly communication, revealing theoretical connections on a wide range of topics drawn from the natural world.