Read complete letters by pliny the younger available from rakuten kobo. You have constantly urged me to collect and publish the more highly finished of the letters that i may have written. Plinys letters provide a fascinating insight into roman life in the period 97 to 112 ad. The letters of pliny the younger kindle edition by pliny. A historical and social commentary oxford 1966 3637, with the summary of results at 41. Selected letters internet history sourcebooks project. Gaius plinius secundus ad 232479, called pliny the elder.
You will ask how that can possibly be in the midst of rome. 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. 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. January 16, 2006 by michael hendry 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. 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. Pliny the youngers letter on the early christians in 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 elder. 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. This work is licensed under a creative commons attributionsharealike 3. 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. 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. 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. From the book of acts, written around 80 ce and chronicles the emergence of the early church, a huge riot broke out just south of ephesus 19. He was educated at home and then in rome under quintilian.
Jan 15, 2019 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. I am one of those who admire the ancients, but not to the extent of despising the genius of our own times, like some people do. The collection includes his wellknown letters about the eruption of vesuvius 6. He was with the fleet he was commanding at misenum bay of naples. 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.
An object in possession seldom retains the same charm that it had in pursuit. The last was written during his tour of administration of bithynia, during which he may well have died. Especially noteworthy among the letters are two in which he describes the eruption of mount vesuvius in october 79, during which his uncle pliny the elder died epistulae vi. An xml version of this text is available for download, with the additional restriction that you offer perseus any modifications you make. Firth 1900 a few words and phrases have been modified. 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. Pliny the younger in light of the christian new testament sources. My uncle will be amongst the number of the latter, both in his own books, and in yours. Dictionary of greek and roman geography 1854, campa. The younger pliny was born in 61 or 62 ce, the son of lucius caecilius of comum como and the elder pliny s sister.
The letters, on which today his fame mainly rests, were largely written with a view to publication, and were arranged by pliny himself. For nature is not so exhausted and worn out that she can no longer produce anything worthy of our praise. First letter, latin original letters, book 6, letter 16, in wikisource. My uncle, pliny the elder, died in a terrible incident which also left our region in ruins. Dictionary of greek and roman geography 1854, hercula.
I have spent these several days past among my papers with the most pleasing tranquillity imaginable. Especially noteworthy among the letters are two in which he describes the eruption of mount vesuvius in august 79, during which his uncle pliny the elder died 65 and 66 in this edition, and one in which he asks the emperor for instructions regarding official policy concerning christians trajan letter 97. Chapter 1 traces plinys autobiographical narrative throughout the letters. Lets hope that our talking about him will immortalize him. Gierig f see letters 16 and 23 of this and doering prefer the sense, re book. However, only the first half of this book is without significant typos. 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.
I have now made a collection, not keeping to the original order as i was not writing history, but taking them as they came to my hand. Pliny the younger simple english wikipedia, the free. Pliny the younger the eruption of vesuvius letter 6. Complete letters ebook by pliny the younger rakuten kobo. The letters of pliny the younger audiobook by john b. Although there are limitations, a number of details in plinys letter correspond with what we learn from the new testament texts. The letters of pliny the younger is a deserved classic an intimate glimpse of the daily life of an upperclass roman citizen in the late first century a. You have often urged me to collect and publish any letters of mine which were composed with some care. Then follows a translation of the two letters that pliny the younger, an eyewitness to. 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. I devoured the information on his uncle, pliny the elder, enjoying the letters on his works and life 3. The smell of sulfur this post belongs to a serialized translation and commentary of pliny the youngers letters 6.
Definitely recommended to those who are interested in looking into our ancient past. The epistulae are later copies of a series of personal missives by pliny the younger directed to his friends and associates. Pliny s letters provide a fascinating insight into roman life in the period 97 to 112 ad. These letters on the vesuvius eruption were written to tacitus, and it is sad that the part of tacituss histories that would have covered that time period are no longer. Circenses erant, quo genere spectaculi ne levissime quidem teneor. Years later, plinys friend the historian, cornelius tactitus asked pliny to write a letter about the events. A part of me wished that i read these letters a lot closer, and also took some notes, because there are a lot of interesting little bits in here, such as an eyewitness account of the eruption of vesuvius letter 6. Sullivan, pliny epistulae vi, 16 and 20 and modern vulcanology. 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. These letters are a unique testimony of roman administrative history and. Epistulae vi letters 6 is the sixth of ten books of letters by the roman lawyer. This post belongs to a serialized translation and commentary of pliny the youngers letters 6.
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. Apr 16, 2020 pliny the younger in light of the christian new testament sources. The letters by gaius plinius caecilius secundus librarything. Chapter 2 undertakes detailed study of book 6 as an artistic entity. I know that immortal fame awaits him if his death is recorded by you. As already mentioned above, highlights of these books include plinys description of the eruption of. His letters are arranged in ten books, of which the tenth consists entirely of letters to and from the emperor trajan. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Book i the letters of pliny book i i to septicius clarus 1. A dictionary of greek and roman antiquities 1890, domus.
The letters of the younger pliny by pliny the younger. The younger pliny was born in 61 or 62 ce, the son of lucius caecilius of comum como and the elder plinys sister. It is therefore with great pleasure that i take up, or rather take upon myself the task you. In which we portray a completely true interpretation of the events transcribed by pliny the younger. Letters of pliny, by gaius plinius caecilius secundus.
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