Pliny the Elder

Gaius Plinius Secundus, (23–79) better known as Pliny the Elder, was an ancient author and Natural philosopher of some importance who wrote Naturalis Historia.

Chronology

Before 35 (N.H. xxxvii.81) his father took him to Rome, where he was educated under his father's friend, the poet and military commander, P. Pomponius Secundus, who inspired him with a lifelong love of learning. Two centuries after the death of the Gracchi, Pliny saw some of their autograph writings in his preceptor's library (xiii.83), and he afterwards wrote that preceptor's Life.

Related Topics:
35 - P. Pomponius Secundus - Gracchi

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He mentions the grammarians and rhetoricians, Remmius Palaemon and Arellius Fuscus (xiv.4; xxxiii.152), and he may have been their student. In Rome he studied botany in the topiarius (garden) of the aged Antonius Castor (xxv.9), and saw the fine old lotus-trees in the grounds that had once belonged to Crassus (xvii.5). He also viewed the vast structure raised by Caligula (xxxvi.111), and probably witnessed the triumph of Claudius over Britain in 44 (iii.119). Under the influence of Seneca the Younger he became a keen student of philosophy and rhetoric, and began practicing as an advocate.

Related Topics:
Grammarian - Rhetorician - Remmius Palaemon - Arellius Fuscus - Botany - Topiarius - Antonius Castor - Lotus - Crassus - Caligula - Claudius - Britain - 44 - Seneca the Younger - Philosophy - Rhetoric - Advocate

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He saw military service under Corbulo in Germania Inferior in 47, taking part in the Roman conquest of the Chauci and the construction of the canal between the rivers Maas and Rhine (xvi. 2 and 5). As a young commander of cavalry (praefectus alae) he wrote in his winter-quarters a work on the use of missiles on horseback (De jaculatione equestri), with some account of the points of a good horse (viii.162).

Related Topics:
Corbulo - Germania Inferior - 47 - Chauci - Maas - Rhine - Cavalry - Missile - Horse

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In Gaul and Spain he learnt the meanings of a number of Celtic words (xxx.40). He took note of sites associated with the Roman invasion of Germany, and, amid the scenes of the victories of Drusus, he had a dream in which the victor enjoined him to transmit his exploits to posterity (Plin. Epp. iii.5, 4). The dream prompted Pliny to begin forthwith a history of all the wars between the Romans and the Germans.

Related Topics:
Gaul - Spain - Celtic - Drusus - War

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He probably accompanied his father's friend Pomponius on an expedition against the Chatti (50), and visited Germany for a third time (50s) as a comrade of the future emperor, Titus Flavius (Praef. §3). Under Nero he lived mainly in Rome. He mentions the map of Armenia and the neighbourhood of the Caspian Sea, which was sent to Rome by the staff of Corbulo in 58 (vi.40). He also saw the building of Nero's "golden house" after the fire of 64 (xxxvi.111).

Related Topics:
Chatti - 50 - Emperor - Titus Flavius - Nero - Armenia - Caspian Sea - 58 - 64

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Meanwhile he was completing the twenty books of his History of the German Wars, the only authority expressly quoted in the first six books of the Annals of Tacitus (1.69), and probably one of the principal authorities for the Germania. It was superseded by the writings of Tacitus, and, early in the 5th century, Symmachus had little hope of finding a copy (Epp. xiv.8).

Related Topics:
Annals - Tacitus - Germania - 5th century - Symmachus

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He also devoted much of his time to writing on the comparatively safe subjects of grammar and rhetoric. A detailed work on rhetoric, entitled Studiosus, was followed by eight books, Dubii sermonis, in 67.

Related Topics:
Grammar - 67

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Under his friend Vespasian he returned to the service of the state, serving as procurator in Gallia Narbonensis (70) and Hispania Tarraconensis (73), and also visiting the province of Gallia Belgica (74). During his stay in Spain he became familiar with the agriculture and the mines of the country, besides paying a visit to Africa (vii.37). On his return to Italy he accepted office under Vespasian, whom he used to visit before daybreak for instructions before proceeding to his official duties, after the discharge of which he devoted all the rest of his time to study (Plin. Epp. iii.5, 9).

Related Topics:
Vespasian - Procurator - Gallia Narbonensis - 70 - Hispania Tarraconensis - 73 - Gallia Belgica - 74 - Agriculture - Mine - Africa

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He completed a History of his Times in thirty-one books, possibly extending from the reign of Nero to that of Vespasian, and deliberately reserved it for publication after his death (N. H., Praef. 20). It is quoted by Tacitus (Ann. xiii.20, xv.53; Hist. iii.29), and is one of the authorities followed by Suetonius and Plutarch.

Related Topics:
Suetonius - Plutarch

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He also virtually completed his great work, the Naturalis Historia, an encyclopedia into which Pliny collected much of the knowledge of his time. The work had been planned under the rule of Nero. The materials collected for this purpose filled rather less than 160 volumes in 23, when Larcius Licinus, the praetorian legate of Hispania Tarraconensis, vainly offered to purchase them for a sum equivalent to more than £3,200 (1911 estimated value) or £200,000 (2002 estimated value). He dedicated the work to Titus Flavius in 77.

Related Topics:
Naturalis Historia - Encyclopedia - 23 - Larcius Licinus - Praetorian - Legate - Titus Flavius - 77

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