In his letter pliny relates the first warning of the eruption. Pliny the elder has 280 books on goodreads with 3768 ratings. Ad 611 was also a prolific letter writer, who numbered among his correspondents such eminent figures as tacitus. 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. A reconstruction of the transmission history of epp. Definitely recommended to those who are interested in looking into our ancient past.
Firth 1900 a few words and phrases have been modified. In a separate introduction to book x are discussed bithynia, chronology, possible. 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. When pliny the younger was 17 or 18, his uncle pliny the elder died attempting to rescue victims of the vesuvius eruption, and the terms of the elder pliny s will passed his estate to his nephew. Pliny the younger, latin in full gaius plinius caecilius secundus, born 6162 ce, comum italydied c. 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. Learn pliny letter translation with free interactive flashcards. The final chapter focuses on the grand design which unifies and structures the collection. Page 431 the name which these stones bear, originates, it is said, in the peculiar tint of their brilliancy, which, after closely approaching the colour of wine, passes off into a violet without being fully pronounced.
See key to translations for an explanation of the format. I am extremely desirous therefore to know whether you believe in the existence of ghosts, and that they have a real form, and are a sort of divinities, or only the visionary impressions of a terrified imagination. I know that immortal fame awaits him if his death is recorded by you. Pliny book 1 pliny book 1, letter 1 english translation pliny book 1, letter 1 latin text. Pliny likely wrote the letters from amisus before his term ended in january 1. 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 elder. The historians request this post belongs to a serialized translation and commentary of pliny the youngers letters 6. A new commentary on the letters of pliny, phoenix 22. Selected letters from pliny the youngers epistulae. The present recess from business we are now enjoying affords you leisure to give, and me to receive, instruction. Perseus provides credit for all accepted changes, storing new additions in a versioning system.
The origin of christianity in that region is not known, but it has not been associated with apostle pauls. Gaius plinius caecilius secundus, usually known as pliny the younger, was born at como in 62 a. The identification of the tribune nigrinus of 105 epp. Pliny responded with a narrative extending from the early afternoon. Moreover pliny does historians the great favor of describing what he has discovered about the way christians worshipped. 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. As well as being plinys first encounter with christians, this is our earliest internal document showing the roman empires attitude and policy towards the church. He was educated at home and then in rome under quintilian.
Commentary by jacqueline carlon oxford greek and latin college commentaries. For the duration of the mandate, observe that pliny s predecessor julius ferox is attested both in 101 and in 103 cil 6. Chapter 1 traces plinys autobiographical narrative throughout the letters. The post is duly registered on the inscription ils 2927. The younger pliny was born in 61 or 62 ce, the son of lucius caecilius of comum como and the elder pliny s sister. 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. Buy a cheap copy of the letters of the younger pliny book by pliny the younger. Book v xvi minicia marcella, the ideal betrothed xix plinys freedman zosimus book vi iv 1st love letter to calpurnia vii 2nd letter to calpurnia x disgrace of an unfinished tomb xi praise of plinys proteges xvi eruption of vesuvius and the elder pliny xx eruption of vesuvius and the younger pliny xxvii how to praise trajan book vii. Though my mind shrinks from rememberingi will begin. Letters of pliny by pliny the younger full audio book. Within book 8s running theme of slavery, epistles 8. This is the first general introduction to pliny s letters published in any language, combining close readings with broader context and adopting a fresh and innovative approach to reading the letters as an artistically structured collection. The letters of the younger pliny book by pliny the younger.
Book 6 had awarded the emperor, newly returned from victory in. A historical and social commentary oxford 1966 3637, with the summary of results at 41. He was at misenum at the time of the eruption of vesuvius in 79 described in two famous letters when the elder pliny died. My uncle was stationed at misenum, in active command of the fleet. This barcode number lets you verify that youre getting exactly the right version or edition of a book.
This anthology offers a comprehensive introduction to pliny the youngers epistulae for. Tacitus in plinys letters dickinson college commentaries. The first fourteen letters of this book are dated from the period preceding plinys appointment as governor his official title was that of legatus augusti pro praetore consulari potestate of bithynia and pontus, probably between 110 and 112 ce. This edition, the first to address a complete book of epistles in over a century, presents a latin text together with an introduction and commentary intended for students, teachers and scholars. Short biographies of the elder and younger pliny, setting the context for the vesuvian letters two letters. I got pliny the youngers letter to trajan from the notes to eusebius ecclesiastical history, book iii, ch. The letters of pliny the younger gaius plinius caecilius secundus are presented here in the english translation by j.
Tacitus is not to laugh at pliny s habit of taking note books on a hunting expedition. Unadapted latin texts of thirty letters 924 lines with same and facingpage commentary. Plinys letter to trajan christian history institute. This is the first general introduction to plinys letters published in any language, combining. Pliny the younger, or gaius plinius caecilius secundus, was the nephew and adopted son of pliny the elder, the author of the famous and importantly influential natural history in thirtyseven. He had been out in the sun, had taken a cold bath, and lunched while lying down, and was then working at his books. This penguin classics edition is translated with an introduction by betty radice. With clear linguistic explanations and full literary analysis, it invites readers to a fresh appreciation of pliny s lettered art. Pliny the younger, the roman governor of bithynia and pontus now in modern turkey wrote a. Pliny the elders most popular book is natural history. Ant s question 9 2 out of 2 points in apuleius book 6, why are lucius and the young girl slated for execution at the end of the book.
Chapter 2 undertakes detailed study of book 6 as an artistic entity. Choose from 500 different sets of pliny letter translation flashcards on quizlet. 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. The original source is pliny the younger, epistles 10.
Pliny the youngers nine book epistles is a masterpiece of roman prose. It was at this time that pliny became closer to his uncle pliny the elder. This volume brings together some of the best and most influential work to be published on the epistles of pliny the younger in recent decades. Viii, and suggested as explanation a sequence of unhealthy seasons cf. Click on the l symbols to go the latin text of each letter. Pliny the younger was governor of pontusbithynia from 1111 ad. We will see how pliny flags up the complexity of his metaliterary play in the framing epistles 8. We have a whole set of exchanges of his letters with the emperor trajan on a variety of administrative political matters. The following references to the letters of pliny, which are addressed to tacitus, may be interesting. The loeb classical library edition of pliny the younger is in two volumes. Gibson, reading the letters of sidonius by the book, in j.
So the letter which you asked me to write on my uncles death has made you eager to hear about the terrors and hazards i had to face when left at misenum, for i broke off at the beginning of this part of my story. Selected letters from pliny the youngers oxford university press. You will ask how that can possibly be in the midst of rome. The correspondence between pliny and emperor trajan shows that the roman empire, as a government entity, did not at this time seek out christians for prosecution or persecution. The letters of the younger pliny are a good source to look into during this period of roman history to see the dangers and excitement in which these people lived there certainly was a lot of it. Wright unpacks pauls letter to philemon, which addresses concerns about the runaway named onesimus. Pliny has a gift for description and a versatile prose style, and more than any of his contemporaries he gives an unprejudiced picture of rome as he knew it. Pliny asks whether brevity is advisable in oratory. This work is licensed under a creative commons attributionsharealike 3.
On the contrary, when i consider the meaning of the term iselastic. Pliny the younger was the governor of bithynia et pontus on the black sea coast of anatolia turkey. Chapters 4 to 7 study thematic letter cycles within the collection, including those on pliny s famous country villas and his relationships with pliny the elder and tacitus. Wright then explains the situation and setting surrounding the letter of pliny the younger to sabinianus about an unnamed runaway.
Finally, i will set the letter into the context of its book as a whole section vi. An index to the letters on this site arranged by book and letter number. Address advocate aerarium appears bassus bithynia bithyniapontus book date caecilius calpurnius career christians cisalpine classicus claudius comum connexion consular consulship corellia corellius death domitian. It would be a long story, and of no importance, were i to recount too particularly by what accident i who am not at all fond of society supped lately with a person, who in his own opinion lives in splendour combined with economy. Pliny the youngers most popular book is the letters of the younger pliny. The oxford greek and latin college commentaries is designed for students in. This comprehensive general commentary on the nine books of the younger pliny s private letters which cover nearly aspect of roman life except warfareoffers a selfcontained discussion of each letter or group of associated letters and their rich array of information about the authors social, political, and legal life and times. An xml version of this text is available for download, with the additional restriction that you offer perseus any modifications you make.
The letters of the younger pliny by pliny the younger. 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. Reading letters pliny younger introduction classical literature. The letters, on which today his fame mainly rests, were largely written with a view to publication, and were arranged by pliny himself. Pliny book 2, letter 1 student commentary pliny book 2, letter 6 english translation pliny book 2, letter 6 latin text pliny book 2, letter 20 english translation. Chapter 1 traces pliny s autobiographical narrative throughout the letters. He plans to work next on a commentary on pliny, letters book 6. Pliny book 2, letter 1 student commentary pliny book 2, letter 6 english translation pliny book 2, letter 6 latin text pliny book 2, letter. You have constantly urged me to collect and publish the more highly finished of the letters that i may have written. Letters of pliny, by gaius plinius caecilius secundus.
This post belongs to a serialized translation and commentary of pliny the youngers letters 6. From letter 15 to the end of the book are letters sent during plinys mission in bithynia. 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. On several dates are given in the copies, in the early afternoon, my mother drew his attention to a cloud of unusual size and appearance. Wright thinks paul was in prison in ephesus at this time, which makes the slaves journey from nearby colossae to see him entirely plausible. Books by pliny the younger author of the letters of the. 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 s letter is the earliest pagan account to refer to early christians and provides a key description of roman administrative process and problems. Attempting to escape question 10 2 out of 2 points in apuleius book 6, what guarded the water from the underworld that psyche was commanded to retrieve. The blog posts about the vesuvius eruption are on hold while i complete my book, pliny and the destruction of vesuvius routledge, 2021. 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. Thompson, ordinary lives, in reading the book of revelation, ed.
Covering historical, autobiographical, and literary aspects of the epistles and their reception, the 19 classic articles included here offer a wide and representative range of approaches to pliny, from prosopography and social history. I have spent these several days past among my papers with the most pleasing tranquillity imaginable. Wright suggests that the story behind this letter is likely that which the majority of commentators have surmised. Selected answer c bo at question 3 2 out of 2 points in. The comments at the bottom of the letters have been added from various sources. Pliny to cornelius tacitus 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. Pliny book 1, letter 6 latin text pliny book 1, letter 9 english translation pliny book 1, letter 9 latin text pliny book 1, letter 10 student commentary.
516 1404 1303 692 1246 339 21 245 413 279 1225 734 600 369 1492 830 1692 489 1112 1363 1536 467 716 1074 216 59 569 1273 734 248 1416 1314 1380 325 582 767 511 631 163 146 1146 1354 87