He was only eight years old when his father, caecilius, died, and he was adopted by his uncle, the elder pliny, author of the natural history. Ad 611 was also a prolific letterwriter, who numbered among his correspondents such eminent figures as tacitus. I am pleased to find by your letter that you are engaged in building. The roman law of succession in the letters of pliny the younger. This modern translation of the ten books of pliny s letters provides a wealth of information on the social and political history of rome at the turn of the first century, including pliny s famous account of the destruction of pompeii and his celebrated correspondence with the emperor trajan about the early christians. Thank you for asking me to send you a description of my uncles death so that you can leave an accurate account of it for posterity1. The text of books i to ix of the letters rests on three manuscript traditions, the 9book, the 10book and the 8book, known as. The style is very different from that in the panegyricus, and some commentators maintain that pliny initiated a new genre. Pliny the younger was governor of pontusbithynia from 1111 ad. Book 1, letter 10 pliny gives a character description of the syrian philosopher, euphrates, who acts as his spiritual adviser. The fundamental basic resource, now in its 3rd edition.
Pliny, the recently instated governor of the roman province of bithynia, admits to the. Buy a cheap copy of the letters of the younger pliny book by pliny the younger. We have a whole set of exchanges of his letters with the emperor trajan on a variety of administrative political matters. Both lively and personal, perhaps selfconsciously modelled on ciceros letters, these give us an intimate glimpse into rome at this period. The last was written during his tour of administration of bithynia, during which he may well have died. Plinys letters are important as a social document of his times. Pliny served as an imperial magistrate under trajan reigned 98117, 2 and his letters to trajan provide one of the few surviving records of the. He praises him to the skies and recommends him to his friend, attius clemens.
Choose from 500 different sets of pliny letter translation flashcards on quizlet. Pliny book 10, letter 97 english translation vroma. Rhiannon ash fellow and tutor in classics, merton college, oxford university discusses pliny and the genre of letter writing in the ancient world, with. You have constantly urged me to collect and publish the more highly finished of the letters that i may have written. With an english translation by william melmoth, rev. Short biographies of the elder and younger pliny, setting the context for the vesuvian letters two letters. Book 10 of his letters is different, however, because it is comprised of official correspondence between pliny. The letters of book 10 are addressed to or from the emperor trajan in their entirety. The letters of book 10 are addressed to or from the emperor trajan in their entirety, and it is. The project gutenberg ebook of letters of pliny, by pliny this ebook is for the use of. The letters of the younger pliny 9780140441277 by pliny. Book 10 the correspondence between pliny and the emperor trajan has its own divisional titlepage and preface.
Proconsul of pontus and bithynia and persecutor of the christians there. I will content myself, however, with naming only euphrates10 the philosopher. Pliny the younger 10 pliny the younger or gaius plinius caecilius secundus 62c. This final book was, significantly, not intended for publication. Selected letters internet history sourcebooks project. The letters of the younger pliny by pliny the younger. Pliny likely wrote the letters from amisus before his term ended in january 1. Pliny the younger was the governor of bithynia and pontus on the black sea coast of anatolia, having arrived there around september 111 as the representative of emperor trajan. The nephew and adopted son of the anthologist and natural historian pliny the elder, he was born in a. The letters of pliny the younger with observations on each. Book 1, letter 15 pliny s friend went to a fancy party. The nine books of letters pliny wrote between 97 and 109 were originally intended for publication and lack the intimacy and sparkle of ciceros letters to atticus, but they contain much personal information on both pliny and his times. He left a collection of letters which offers intimate glimpses into public and private life during the roman empire born of the wealthy caecilius family at comum in northern italy, pliny the younger, as he was later known, was probably given his early education by tutors at home and.
Definitely recommended to those who are interested in looking into our ancient past. Short biographies of the elder and younger pliny, setting the context for the vesuvian letters. Pliny book 10, letter 96 english translation vroma. Providing a series of fascinating views of imperial rome, the letters of the younger pliny also offer one of the fullest selfportraits to survive from classical times. Part autobiography, part social history, they document the career and interests of a senator and leading imperial official whose friends include the historians tacitus and suetonius. The origin of christianity in that region is not known, but it has not been associated with paul the apostles travels. These letters, recording most aspects of ancient roman public and private life, were taken as models well into the eighteenth century. These letters are a unique testimony of roman administrative history and. Plinys lively and very personal letters address an astonishing range of topics, from a deeply moving account of his uncles death in the eruption that engulfed pompeii, to observations on the early christiansa desperate.
The letters of the younger pliny have come down to us in 10 books, 9 of his personal letters, and book 10 containing his official correspondence with the emperor trajan. It may be wondered that pliny should keep his own temper, and check the. Learn pliny letter translation with free interactive flashcards. In these letters to his friends and relations, pliny the younger, lawyer, author, and natural philosopher, provides a fascinating insight into roman life in the period 97 to 112 ad.
This penguin classics edition is translated with an introduction by betty radice. Roman senator, nephew of pliny the elder, governor of bithynia pontus 109111, author of a famous collection of letters. Feb 26, 2009 this is a lively new translation by eminent scholar peter walsh, based on the oxford classical text and drawing on the latest scholarship. In his introduction, walsh considers the political background of the letters, the span of pliny s career, the range of topics covered in the letters, and pliny s literary style. A prominent lawyer and administrator, pliny was also a prolific letterwriter, who numbered among his correspondents such eminent. Letters of pliny, by gaius plinius caecilius secundus. Complete letters ebook by pliny the younger rakuten kobo. Pliny served as an imperial magistrate under trajan reigned 98117, and his letters to trajan provide one of the few surviving records of the relationship between the imperial office and provincial. Pliny the younger, latin in full gaius plinius caecilius secundus, born 6162 ce, comum italydied c.
Note on the text the text of books i to ix of the letters rests on three manuscript traditions, the 9book, the 10book and the 8book, known as. While this book does contain a lot of first hand information about life in imperial rome especially the legal system and the elaborate network of favors, obligations, and patronage in the senatorial class its not especially readable, being a collection of letters written by pliny and, near the end, by the emperor trajan to pliny. He was at misenum at the time of the eruption of vesuvius in 79 described in two famous letters when the elder pliny died. Pliny s letters provide a fascinating insight into roman life in the period 97 to 112 ad. It is a rule, sir, which i inviolably observe, to refer myself to you in all my doubts. Letter 96 is the most famous of the collection, and it contains the earliest external account of christian worship, and details what was to. Some are addressed to reigning emperors or to notables such as the historian tacitus. They thus lack the spontaneity of ciceros impulsive utterances, but to most modern readers who are not special students of roman history they are even more interesting. They tell us about the man himself and his wide interests, and about his many friends, including tacitus, martial, and suetonius. He was educated at home and then in rome under quintilian. Plinys letters provide a fascinating insight into roman life in. Translating plinys letters about vesuvius update quem.
Pliny describes the simple meal his friend would have enjoyed if he had decided to. Book 1, letter 15 plinys friend went to a fancy party. The younger pliny was born in 61 or 62 ce, the son of lucius caec. Pliny the younger encyclopedia of the bible bible gateway.
Pliny the younger wrote hundreds of letters, of which 247 survive and are of great historical value. The epistulae are later copies of a series of personal missives by pliny the younger directed to his friends and associates. Prosopography highly selective birley, anthony richard. These letters are a unique testimony of roman administrative history and everyday life in the 1st century. I know that immortal fame awaits him if his death is recorded by you. Letter 96 is the most famous of the collection, and it contains the earliest external account of christian worship, and details what was to become the standard roman policy toward. William melmoth in harvard classics series introductory note. The numbering of the letters in this book has been changed slightly to bring it.
The letters, on which today his fame mainly rests, were largely written with a view to publication, and were arranged by pliny himself. Read complete letters by pliny the younger available from rakuten kobo. The letters of the younger pliny the younger, pliny. Pdf the publication of plinys letters 2015 john bodel. Sep 02, 2019 the blog posts about the vesuvius eruption are on hold while i complete my book, pliny and the destruction of vesuvius routledge, 2021. Aug 28, 2014 rhiannon ash fellow and tutor in classics, merton college, oxford university discusses pliny and the genre of letter writing in the ancient world, with particular reference to letter 6. The method you have pursued, my dear pliny, in sifting the cases of those denounced to you as cbristians is. The letters of the younger pliny penguin classics by pliny the younger and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Gaius plinius caecilius secundus, usually known as pliny the younger, was born at como in 62 a. Firth 1900 a few words and phrases have been modified. The blog posts about the vesuvius eruption are on hold while i complete my book, pliny and the destruction of vesuvius routledge, 2021. He was a student of the famous rhetorician, quintillian, and gained fame early as a lawyer, esp.
This modern translation of the ten books of plinys letters provides a wealth of information on the social and political history of rome at the turn of the first century, including plinys famous account of the destruction of pompeii and his celebrated correspondence with the emperor trajan about the early christians. The younger pliny was born in 61 or 62 ce, the son of lucius caecilius of comum como and the elder plinys sister. Book x of the letters contains his correspondence with trajan during this period, and includes letters about the early christians. Epistulae x letters 10, also known as the correspondence with trajan is a book of letters by the roman lawyer and author pliny the younger to the emperor trajan between 109 and 111 ce. This post belongs to a serialized translation and commentary of pliny the youngers letters 6.
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