The letters of Pliny the Younger tell us a lot about everyday life in the Roman Empire. They also give a good portrait of the writer himself.

The nephew and adopted son of Pliny the Elder, he was born in Comum (modern Como) in north Italy. He became a lawyer, politician and orator.

What is Pliny the Younger's Letters?

Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus, commonly known as Pliny the Younger (61–c. 113), was a Roman lawyer, author, and magistrate. He was a member of Emperor Trajan's judicial council three times and was one of the most prominent Roman orators.

He wrote many literary works, but his most famous work was a series of letters. These were written in a formal and meticulous style, using eloquent and detailed rhetoric to express his feelings on various subjects.

The letters have been preserved in copies made hundreds of years later, which differ slightly from each other. The surviving manuscripts are divided into two families: the nine-book tradition and the ten-book tradition.

Book 10 contains correspondence between Pliny and Trajan during his time as governor of Bithynia-Pontus. The majority of the letter deals with the everyday affairs of government such as legal disputes, protocol and provincial finances. But some of the letters are more contemplative, with advice to friends or references to political figures.

Who was Pliny the Younger's wife?

Pliny the Younger was a famous diarist and writer who lived in the Roman Empire. He left a collection of letters which give intimate glimpses into public and private life during the time of the Roman Empire.

He was born in Comum (modern Como, Italy) in 61 or 62 AD and educated in Rome. His uncle, the writer Pliny the Elder, died in 79 and Pliny the Younger inherited his estate.

Early in his career, he worked as a lawyer and gained a reputation for honesty and skill in the civil law courts. He also defended many provincial governors in the centumviri, or private law courts.

He later became a successful senator and an administrator. In his final years, he served as governor of Bithynia-Pontus, in what is now northern Turkey. Here he encountered Christians who were obstinately resisting the Roman religion of pagan worship.

What was Pliny the Younger's job?

Pliny the Younger, whose letters are considered by many to be the best surviving evidence of life in 1st century Rome, was a successful lawyer. But his career also included a variety of other vocations, such as military service and writing scientific research.

He wrote to a variety of friends, including the historian Tacitus, biographer Suetonius, and Emperor Trajan. His letters provide a vivid picture of public and private life in the city of Rome.

The letters cover Pliny's escape from Vesuvius and his career in Rome, his often fraught private life and his interest in the natural world. They also document his philanthropy, a trait that was encouraged by the Roman emperors, and he left millions of sesterces in his will for the upkeep of public baths, a library, and freedmen.

What was Pliny the Younger's life like?

Pliny the Younger, born around 61 CE, was the nephew of the famous Roman writer Pliny the Elder. He was probably given an early education from tutors at home and went to study in Rome.

In 79 CE, his uncle Pliny died in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius and he inherited his estate. He began a career as a lawyer and, in 100 CE, was appointed by Emperor Trajan to the Roman centumviral court.

The ten books of letters that survive today offer fascinating glimpses into the life and times of this renowned Roman author and administrator. Written to his friends, including the historian Tacitus and biographer Suetonius, they give a picture of the world of ancient Rome.

The letters, which are in a variety of styles to suit their subject, tell the reader about Pliny’s escape from Vesuvius and his career in Rome. They also describe his fraught private life and his fascination with the natural world.