Short biographies of the elder and younger pliny, setting the context for the vesuvian letters. Click on the l symbols to go the latin text of each letter. 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. The text of books i to ix of the letters rests on three manuscript traditions, the 9 book, the 10 book and the 8 book, known as. It is a rule, sir, which i inviolably observe, to refer myself to you in all my doubts. Selected letters from pliny the youngers epistulae carlon. Book viii the letters of pliny book viii i to septicius clarus. The letters in the new testament from apostles to christians are usually referred to as. Letters from a stoic epistulae morales ad lucilium summary. I had an easy journey, apart from the fact that some of my people were taken ill in the intense heat. Learn latin pliny 6 epistula with free interactive flashcards.
Pliny chase 18201886, american scientist, mathematician. Nihil novum nihil varium, nihil quod non semel spectasse sufficiat. Librivox recording of letters of pliny by pliny the younger. Having never been present at any trials of the christians, i am unacquainted with the method and limits to be observed either in. The comments at the bottom of the letters have been added from various sources. A series of personal missives by pliny the younger directed to his friends and associates. The style is very different from that in the panegyricus, and some commentators maintain that pliny initiated a new genre.
The present recess from business affords you leisure to give, and me to receive, instruction. Letters on a variety of topics offer insights into the roman society and culture of pliny s time. The epistle genre of letterwriting was common in ancient egypt as part of the scribalschool writing curriculum. 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. The letters of the younger pliny penguin classics 9780140441277. He revered his uncle, pliny the elder, and provides sketches of how his uncle worked on the naturalis historia. Letters on a variety of topics offer insights into the roman society and culture of plinys time.
They were not written with an eye to publication, and. 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. Pliny the younger died 1, ancient roman statesman, orator, writer, and pliny the elders nephew and adopted son. His letters are arranged in ten books, of which the tenth consists entirely of letters to and from the emperor trajan. These letters are a unique testimony of roman administrative history and everyday life in the 1st century. As the only selection of the letters with extensive commentary, it provides the. A series of personal missives by pliny the younger directed. You have constantly urged me to collect and publish the more highly finished of the letters that i may have written. Pliny the younger was born in novum comum como, northern italy, the son of lucius caecilius cilo, born there, and wife plinia marcella, a sister of pliny the elder. Barbara weiden boyd, bowdoin college, stephen esposito, boston university, and mary lefkowitz, wellesley college also available ovid.
Pliny the younger, trajan emperor of rome 53117, domitian emperor of rome 5196, nerva emperor of rome ca. Pliny chase 18201886, american scientist, mathematician, and educator. Circenses erant, quo genere spectaculi ne levissime quidem teneor. The epistulae are later copies of a series of personal missives by pliny the younger directed to his friends and associates. Pliny the elder 23 ad79 ad, ancient roman nobleman, scientist, historian, and author of naturalis historia plinys natural history pliny the younger died 1, ancient roman statesman, orator, writer, and pliny the elders nephew and adopted son. Click anywhere in the line to jump to another position. Note on the text the text of books i to ix of the letters rests on three manuscript traditions, the 9 book, the 10 book and the 8 book, known as. 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. 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. Publication date 1915 publisher london heinemann collection robarts. Pliny the elder 23 ad79 ad, ancient roman nobleman, scientist, historian, and author of naturalis historia pliny s natural history. This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. The letters of pliny the younger gaius plinius caecilius secundus are presented here in the english translation by j. Indeed, my reader encolpius the one who is our joy for work or play found the dust so irritating to his throat that he spat blood, and it will be a sad blow to him and a great loss to me if this makes him unfit for his services.
He was at misenum at the time of the eruption of vesuvius in 79 described in two famous letters when the elder pliny died. 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. At this time, pliny already had reached the peak of his political career. Choose from 103 different sets of latin pliny 6 epistula flashcards on quizlet. Book awards book club selections books by author books by series coming soon kids books new releases teens books this months biggest new releases. The historians request this post belongs to a serialized translation and commentary of pliny the youngers letters 6. Selected letters from pliny the youngers epistulae in. Selected letters from pliny the youngers epistulae commentary by jacqueline carlon jacqueline carlon oxford greek and latin college commentaries. 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. Read in english by andrew coleman the largest surviving body of plinys work is his epistulae letters, a series of personal missives directed to his friends, associates and the emperor trajan. Grammatical and syntactical glosses are meticulously researched and appropriately referenced. An xml version of this text is available for download, with the additional restriction that you offer perseus any modifications you make.
A historical and social commentary oxford 1966 3637, with the summary of results at 41. Read in english by andrew coleman the largest surviving body of pliny s work is his epistulae letters, a series of personal missives directed to his friends, associates and the emperor trajan. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages. What happens in each of the 24 books of the iliad by homer. Give me a penny, and i will tell you a story worth gold, or, rather, you shall hear two or three. Comprehensive commentary makes this volume ideal for use on its own, without supplementary materials. I know that immortal fame awaits him if his death is recorded by you. 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. Nam lacus piscem, feras silvae quibus lacus cingitur, studia altissimus iste secessus affatim suggerunt. 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. I am extremely desirous therefore to know your sentiments concerning spectres, whether you believe they actually exist and have their own proper shapes and a measure of divinity, or are only the false impressions of a terrified imagination. This book is a reproduction of the original book published in 1855 and may have some imperfections such as marks or handwritten notes.
Pliny responded with a narrative extending from the early afternoon. See key to translations for an explanation of the format. The first reference to plinys own activities as a poet is to be found in book 4, which sherwinwhite dates to 1045 ad6. This book, with original latin accompanied by close commentary in english, offers a comprehensive introduction to pliny the youngers epistulae for intermediate and advanced latin students, with all of the necessary support grammatical, lexical and historical for them to be able to read quickly and fluidly. Pliny likely wrote the letters from amisus before his term ended in january 1. Pliny, martial and regulus, or the problem of lacking approval in lifetime scholars usually date book 19 of the letters to the period of 96108 ad5. Plinys uncle, pliny the elder, helped raise and educate him. 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. Mynors 1963, in the bibliotheca augustana pliny was born in comum in 61 or 62 a. An occasional publication of the national humanities institute, epistulae seeks to provide clarity and insight on significant issues of our time. The tenth book consists of letters to and from the emperor trajan, mostly written during plinys governorship.
Verania, the widow of piso, the piso, i mean, whom galba adopted, lay extremely ill, and regulus paid her a visit. This work is licensed under a creative commons attributionsharealike 3. Selected letters from pliny the youngers epistulae. Sullivan, pliny epistulae vi, 16 and 20 and modern vulcanology, cp 63 1968 196200. Theres no reason why you should look down upon this type of studying. A reconstruction of the transmission history of epp. Gaius plinius caecilius secundus, born gaius caecilius or gaius caecilius cilo 61 c.
738 1042 79 1193 1139 1192 910 1108 833 1128 1005 1355 1025 243 418 388 949 943 255 847 1087 1392 1078 805 319 1496 282 384 238 1042 872 1309 1221 1199 1350