Pliny the Younger

Pliny the Younger was a lawyer, author, and magistrate in Ancient Rome. He is not to be confused with his uncle, Pliny the Elder, who helped raise and educate him. They both witnessed Mt. Vesuvius erupt on August 24th, 74 AD. This was the day of Pliny the Elder's death. Pliny is known for his hundreds of surviving letters. These are an invaluable historical source for study of Pliny's contemporary time period (ca. 1st cent AD). Many of these letters are to emperors, nobles, historians (ie. Tacitus). Pliny himself was a notable figure, who served as imperial magistrate under Trajan. Pliny was an honest and moderate man who rose through the cursus honorum (series of political and military offices).

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