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. Plinys letters are important as a social document of his times. Pliny describes the simple meal his friend would have enjoyed if he had decided to. Buy a cheap copy of the letters of the younger pliny book by pliny the younger. Pdf the publication of plinys letters 2015 john bodel. 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. Book 10 the correspondence between pliny and the emperor trajan has its own divisional titlepage and preface. Pliny the younger was governor of pontusbithynia from 1111 ad. Gaius plinius caecilius secundus, usually known as pliny the younger, was born at como in 62 a.
Letter 96 is the most famous of the collection, and it contains the earliest external account of christian worship, and details what was to. Epistulae vi letters 6 is the sixth of ten books of letters by the roman lawyer and author pliny the younger, mainly written around 106 to 107 ce. Prosopography highly selective birley, anthony richard. The fundamental basic resource, now in its 3rd edition. It may be wondered that pliny should keep his own temper, and check the. 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. The roman law of succession in the letters of pliny the younger. Book 1, letter 10 pliny gives a character description of the syrian philosopher, euphrates, who acts as his spiritual adviser. The project gutenberg ebook of letters of pliny, by pliny this ebook is for the use of. I know that immortal fame awaits him if his death is recorded by you. Pliny book 10, letter 110 english translation pliny book 10, letter 110 latin text pliny book 10, letter 111 english translation pliny book 10, letter 111 latin text. This final book was, significantly, not intended for publication.
The method you have pursued, my dear pliny, in sifting the cases of those denounced to you as cbristians is. Chapter 2 undertakes detailed study of book 6 as an artistic entity. This post belongs to a serialized translation and commentary of pliny the youngers letters 6. Of these, letters 16 and 20 are the most famous and longest ones, written to the historian tacitus and describing the eruption of mount vesuvius when he was a boy in august of 79 ce, as well as the death of his uncle, pliny the. Pliny the younger was governor of pontus and bithynia from 1111 ce. Book 1, letter 15 pliny s friend went to a fancy party. 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. 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. He praises him to the skies and recommends him to his friend, attius clemens. Both lively and personal, perhaps selfconsciously modelled on ciceros letters, these give us an intimate glimpse into rome at this period. Mynors 1963, in the bibliotheca augustana pliny was born in comum in 61 or 62 a.
It is a rule, sir, which i inviolably observe, to refer myself to you in all my doubts. The epistulae are later copies of a series of personal missives by pliny the younger directed to his friends and associates. 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 work is licensed under a creative commons attributionsharealike 3. The younger pliny was born in 61 or 62 ce, the son of lucius caecilius of comum como and the elder pliny s sister. A prominent lawyer and administrator, pliny was also a prolific letterwriter, who numbered among his correspondents such eminent.
Pliny the younger 10 pliny the younger or gaius plinius caecilius secundus 62c. The letters, on which today his fame mainly rests, were largely written with a view to publication, and were arranged by pliny himself. He was educated at home and then in rome under quintilian. These letters, recording most aspects of ancient roman public and private life, were taken as models well into the eighteenth century. A prominent lawyer and administrator, pliny was also a prolific letterwriter, who numbered among his. They tell us about the man himself and his wide interests, and about his many friends, including tacitus, martial, and suetonius. The younger pliny was born in 61 or 62 ce, the son of lucius caec. Pliny s letters are important as a social document of his times. The origin of christianity in that region is not known, but it has not been associated with paul the apostles travels. Book x of the letters contains his correspondence with trajan during this period, and includes letters about the early christians. Pliny the younger, latin in full gaius plinius caecilius secundus, born 6162 ce, comum italydied c. Pliny s letters provide a fascinating insight into roman life in the period 97 to 112 ad. 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 the younger wrote hundreds of letters, of which 247 survive and are of great historical value.
The romans used to lie or walk naked in the sun, after anointing their bodies with oil, which was esteemed as greatly contributing to health, and therefore daily practised by them. 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. Book 1, letter 15 plinys friend went to a fancy party. The text of books i to ix of the letters rests on three manuscript traditions, the 9book, the 10book and the 8book, known as. Book 10 of his letters is different, however, because it is comprised of official correspondence between pliny. 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. Choose from 500 different sets of pliny letter translation flashcards on quizlet. 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. These two letters are the most famous, in which pliny the younger encounters christianity for the first time. With an english translation by william melmoth, rev. The letters of book 10 are addressed to or from the emperor trajan in their entirety, and it is. Pliny book 10, letter 97 english translation vroma. We have a whole set of exchanges of his letters with the emperor trajan on a variety of administrative political matters.
The letters of pliny the younger with observations on each. I will content myself, however, with naming only euphrates10 the philosopher. This custom, however, of anointing themselves, is inveighed against by the satirists as in the number of their luxurious indulgences. 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. Writing in the second century ce ad, pliny s correspondence includes letters to tacitus, suetonius and the emperor trajan. Having never been present at any trials of the christians, i am unacquainted with the method and limits to be observed either in. Selected letters internet history sourcebooks project. The style is very different from that in the panegyricus, and some commentators maintain that pliny initiated a new genre. The comments at the bottom of the letters have been added from various sources.
The younger pliny was born in 61 or 62 ce, the son of lucius caecilius of comum como and the elder plinys sister. Perseus provides credit for all accepted changes, storing new additions in a versioning system. Mynors 1963, in the bibliotheca augustana pliny was born in comum in. Learn pliny letter translation with free interactive flashcards. This penguin classics edition is translated with an introduction by betty radice. These letters are a unique testimony of roman administrative history and everyday life in the 1st century. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. 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.
Plinys letters provide a fascinating insight into roman life in the period 97 to 112 ad. Some are addressed to reigning emperors or to notables such as the historian tacitus. 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. Read complete letters by pliny the younger available from rakuten kobo. An xml version of this text is available for download, with the additional restriction that you offer perseus any modifications you make. These letters are a unique testimony of roman administrative history and. The numbering of the letters in this book has been changed slightly to bring it into line with the most recent editions. Complete letters ebook by pliny the younger rakuten kobo. The letters of the younger pliny the younger, pliny. Chapter 1 traces plinys autobiographical narrative throughout the letters. Pliny likely wrote the letters from amisus before his term ended in january 1. 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.
The smell of sulfur this post belongs to a serialized translation and commentary of pliny the youngers letters 6. Pliny book 10, letter 96 english translation vroma. They tell us about the man himself and his wide interests, and about his many friends, including tacitus, martial and suetonius. Roman senator, nephew of pliny the elder, governor of bithynia pontus 109111, author of a famous collection of letters. Firth 1900 a few words and phrases have been modified. Letters of pliny, by gaius plinius caecilius secundus. The letters of the younger pliny by pliny the younger. They document politics, social life, religion, the educational system, the treatment of slaves and include a vivid description of the eruption of vesuvius. You have constantly urged me to collect and publish the more highly finished of the letters that i may have written. 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.
1299 467 1306 413 695 1527 621 1120 1333 1308 813 123 735 1392 1486 1248 1284 667 146 7 1000 659 937 819 938 586 489 340 450 508