Short biographies of the elder and younger pliny, setting the context for the vesuvian letters. Jul 28, 2014 while in many cases book 9 letters serve to essentially close prior cases opened up in book 1, i propose that 9. Whether book 10 was edited posthumously, or by pliny himself as argued by woolf, g. The letters of pliny the younger gaius plinius caecilius secundus are presented here in the english translation by j. Pliny the younger was born in novum comum como, northern italy around 61 ad, the son of lucius caecilius cilo, born there, and his wife plinia marcella, a sister of pliny the elder. These letters are a unique testimony of roman administrative history and everyday life in the 1st century.
Selected letters internet history sourcebooks fordham university. Pliny book 1, letter 15 english translation pliny book 1, letter 15 latin text. Jan 16, 2006 dear acilius, 1 a terrible thing, worthy of more than just a letter, has been suffered at the hands of his slaves by larcius macedo, a man of praetorian rank, a haughty and savage master who remembered too little or rather too well that his own father had been a slave. This letter by pliny is for two reasons interesting. Selected letters from pliny the youngers epistulae. Comprehensive commentary makes this volume ideal for use on its own, without supplementary materials. Dear acilius, 1 a terrible thing, worthy of more than just a letter, has been suffered at the hands of his slaves by larcius macedo, a man of praetorian rank, a haughty and savage master who remembered too little or rather too well that his own father had been a slave. Often mined as a historical and pedagogical sourcebook, this collection of private letters is now finding recognition as a rich and rewarding work in its own right. Trajans journey from the danube to rome spring 99 21. It is quite possible that book 10 had had a separate transmission immediately after plinys death, but the move over to the codex from the roll in late antiquity may have encouraged the combination at that point.
Pliny epistulae 9 14 in latin, with adjustable running. Ideo dilata cognitione, ad consulendum te decucurri. Nunc destino partim orariis navibus, partim vehiculis provinciam petere. 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.
Pliny scorns the more scientific grrek medicine, because many doctors would be quacks, and extols old roman treatments which worked on faith alone, though there was a lot of credulity going round, so some probably worked. Visa est enim mihi res digna consultatione, maxime propter periclitantium numerum. You have constantly urged me to collect and publish the more highly finished of the letters that i may have written. Domination, romanisation, resistance 2006, 93 108, and stadter, p. 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. Seneca the younger one tragedy, epistulae to total 20 pp. A series of personal missives by pliny the younger directed. Publication date 1915 publisher london heinemann collection robarts. Manuscripts of the epistulae fall into three families. It is quite possible that book 10 had had a separate transmission immediately after pliny s death, but the move over to the codex from the roll in late antiquity may have encouraged the combination at that point. Gaius plinius caecilius secundus, born gaius caecilius or gaius caecilius cilo 61 c. See all books authored by pliny the younger, including the letters of the younger pliny, and the historians of ancient rome, and more on. Nam sicut itineri graues aestus, ita continuae navigationi etesiae.
Pliny the younger, the roman governor of bithynia and pontus now in modern turkey wrote a letter to emperor trajan around ad 112 and asked for counsel on dealing with the early christian community. Jacqui carlons selected letters from pliny the youngers epistulae is a welcome addition to the ongoing resurgence in studies on roman epistolary literature, pliny especially. 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. The text of books i to ix of the letters rests on three manuscript traditions, the 9book, the 10book and the 8book, known as. Grammatical and syntactical glosses are meticulously researched and appropriately referenced. The pliny and trajan correspondence as a church industry. A prominent lawyer and administrator, pliny was also a prolific letterwriter, who numbered among his correspondents such.
Having never been present at any trials of the christians, i am unacquainted with the method and limits to be observed either in. We personally assess every books quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures. The same deed done by an unknown person will be unheard of. By this time, it is likely that both the 9 book and 10 book versions were in existence. By this time, it is likely that both the 9book and 10book versions were in existence. Thriftbooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. He was the grandson of senator and landowner gaius caecilius, revered his uncle, pliny the elder who at this time was extremely famous around the roman empire, and provided sketches of how his uncle worked on.
Pliny the younger, panegyricus loeb classical library. The project gutenberg ebook of letters of pliny, by pliny this ebook is for the. The letters of the younger pliny by pliny the younger. Nicea as appears by the 15th letter of this book, a city in. Mostly letters between pliny and his friends, though the last chapter is letters he wrote to the emperor. Gaius plinius secundus 23 ad august 25, 79 ad, better known as pliny the elder, was a roman author, naturalist, and natural philosopher, as well as naval and army commander of the early roman empire, and personal friend of the emperor vespasian. The panegyricus is an expanded, published version of pliny s oration of thanks to the emperor trajan in 100 ce. Choose from 103 different sets of latin pliny 6 epistula flashcards on quizlet.
Pliny the youngers letters, much admired for their detailed descriptions of rome in the first century a. Pliny hoped to squelch this dangerous superstition. Gaius plinius caecilius secundus, usually known as pliny the younger. The panegyricus is an expanded, published version of plinys oration of thanks to the emperor trajan in 100 ce. Selected letters from pliny the youngers epistulae commentary by jacqueline carlon jacqueline carlon oxford greek and latin college commentaries. As you are an exemplary instance of tender regard to your family in general, and to your late excellent brother in particular, whose warm attachment you returned with an equal fondness. Plinius, plini m pliny plinius pline plinio plinio. Nam crebris vastisque tremoribus tecta nutabant, et quasi emota sedibus suis nunc huc nunc illuc abire aut referri videbantur.
By drawing both on prior letters to tacitus but also thematic literary precursors like cicero and seneca, pliny pulls. Pliny the younger books list of books by author pliny the. Plinys two letters regarding the eruption were written to the historian tacitus, a close friend, who had requested from pliny a detailed account of his uncles death for inclusion in his own historical work. With an english translation by william melmoth, rev. The comments at the bottom of the letters have been added from various sources. Nonfiction harvard classics pliny the younger letters. Letters of pliny, by gaius plinius caecilius secundus. An index to the letters on this site arranged by book and letter number. Plinius, plinia, plinium plinius plinius plinius plinius plinio. Plinius traiano imperatori quia confido, domine, ad curam tuam pertinere, nuntio tibi me ephesum cum omnibus meis.
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. Pliny epistulae 9 14 in latin, with adjustable running vocabulary. Firth 1900 a few words and phrases have been modified. The appendix note puts the whole thing into perspective. While in many cases book 9 letters serve to essentially close prior cases opened up in book 1, i propose that 9. This book is a reproduction of the original book published in 1855 and may have some imperfections such as marks or handwritten notes. Book 1 book 2 book 3 book 4 book 5 book 6 book 7 book 8 book 9 book 10. Pliny the younger books list of books by author pliny.
This work is licensed under a creative commons attributionsharealike 3. Learn latin pliny 6 epistula with free interactive flashcards. Pliny then goes on to describe his uncles failed attempt to study further the eruption and to save the lives of refugees, using the fleet under his command. A reconstruction of the transmission history of epp. Future triumph ending first dacian war, end of 102 1819. This penguin classics edition is translated with an introduction by betty radice. The faculty has devised six separate reading lists to facilitate successful performance on the various comprehensive exam options listed below. Gaius plinius caecilius secundus, usually known as pliny the younger, was born at como in 62 a. 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. He was at misenum at the time of the eruption of vesuvius in 79 described in two famous letters when the elder pliny died. A series of personal missives by pliny the younger directed to his friends and associates.
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. Pliny the youngers ninebook epistles is a masterpiece of roman prose. Cambridge core classical literature reading the letters of pliny the younger by roy k. His letters are arranged in ten books, of which the tenth consists entirely of letters to and from the emperor trajan. Pliny the youngers nine book epistles is a masterpiece of roman prose. Nam lacus piscem, feras silvae quibus lacus cingitur, studia altissimus iste secessus affatim suggerunt. Pliny likely wrote the letters from amisus before his term ended in january 1. Pliny describes the simple meal his friend would have enjoyed if he had decided to spend the evening at. It is a rule, sir, which i inviolably observe, to refer myself to you in all my doubts. Letters on a variety of topics offer insights into the roman society and culture of plinys time.
Pliny epistulae 5 15 in latin, with adjustable running vocabulary. Mynors 1963, in the bibliotheca augustana pliny was born in comum in 61 or 62 a. This final book was, significantly, not intended for publication. An object in possession seldom retains the same charm that it had in pursuit. The faculty has devised six separate reading lists to facilitate successful performance on the.