Pliny the Elder
Gaius Plinius Secundus arrived in the world at Como during 23 or 24 AD. His father was an equestrian named Gaius Plinius Celer and his mother bore the name Marcella. No surviving letter from either Pliny mentions these parental names directly. The only evidence comes from a fragmentary inscription found in Verona by Onofrio Panvinio in the 16th century. This stone elegy lists the family names but leaves some details uncertain to modern scholars. Pliny himself called Catullus of Verona his fellow-countryman, not his townsman. Two later inscriptions confirm Como as his true hometown rather than Verona. One honors his nephew's charitable work for the people of Como. Another identifies his father Lucius village as Fecchio near Cantù. The local surname Prina still preserves the ancient root Plina today.
In 46 AD Pliny entered the Roman army as a junior officer at age 23. He served under Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo in Germania Inferior. During 47 AD he participated in the conquest of the Chauci tribe. He also helped build a canal between the Maas and Rhine rivers. An eyewitness account describes Roman ships anchored overnight warding off floating trees. Later Pliny transferred to Germania Superior under Publius Pomponius Secundus. He held the staff position of military tribune there. In 50 AD he fought against the Chatti during his fourth year of service. His final posting returned him to Germania Inferior as praefectus alae. This role commanded a cavalry battalion of about 480 men. A decorative harness piece found at Castra Vetera bears his name. The inscription reads PLINIO PRAEF EQ meaning Pliny prefect of cavalry.
Vespasian appointed Pliny to a series of high administrative posts starting in 70 AD. Friedrich Münzer identified four possible procuratorships though only two are certain. Syme placed Gallia Narbonensis first early in 70 AD. Pliny described this province as more like Italy than a conquered territory. Next came Africa from 70 to 72 AD where he witnessed Psylli provoking poisonous toads. He saw molded earthen walls superior to any cement and the fertile oasis of Gabès. Hispania Tarraconensis followed between 72 and 74 AD. Larcius Licinius offered 400,000 sesterces for Pliny's manuscripts while he served there. Pliny listed population statistics for Hither Hispania including modern Asturias. He likely contributed to the census conducted by Vibius Crispus in 73 or 74 AD. His final post was Gallia Belgica from 74 to 76 AD based on his familiarity with Trier.
Pliny wrote seven works spanning 102 volumes but only Natural History survives today. The twenty-volume Bella Germaniae served as a primary source for Tacitus and Suetonius. This history covered wars between Romans and Germanic tribes. It disappeared before the fifth century when Symmachus could find no copy. A thirty-one-volume work called Aufidii Bassi extended earlier historical records to Pliny's day. Pliny deliberately reserved these controversial histories for publication after his death. He stated he feared suspicion during his lifetime if published sooner. These texts detailed events from Nero's reign through Vespasian's rule. They included accounts of the Pisonian conspiracy against Nero. Pliny claimed accuracy confirmed yet left judgment to posterity. His nephew preserved the extracts which reached about 160 volumes.
The thirty-seven volume Natural History became Pliny's final masterpiece completed around 77 AD. One servant read aloud while another wrote down extracts dictated by Pliny. He even dictated while taking baths or in winter wearing gloves to keep hands warm. The collection grew to 160 volumes covering botany zoology astronomy geology and mineralogy. Pliny claimed to be the only Roman to undertake such an encyclopedic work. The dedication went to Titus Flavius Vespasianus who was consul six times by 77 AD. It remains the largest single surviving work from the Roman Empire. Modern scholars use it to understand ancient mining technology like hushing methods. Giorgio Vasari relied on Pliny for his Lives of Painters in 1550. The work covers every topic known to the ancients with a comprehensive index list.
On the 24th of August at one afternoon Pliny received news of an unusual cloud. His sister informed him of the eruption while he commanded the fleet at Misenum. A message arrived pleading for help from Rectina stranded in Stabiae. Pliny boarded galleys dispatched across the Gulf of Naples toward Herculaneum. Cinders and pumice began falling as they approached the shore near Pompeii. The helmsman advised turning back but Pliny ordered them forward saying fortune favors the bold. They reached Senator Pomponianus at Stabiae but winds prevented their return that evening. Hot toxic gases engulfed the group when they fled later that night. Pliny died leaving no external injuries behind. His body was found three days after the plume dispersed. Jacob Bigelow concluded in 1859 that apoplexy or heart disease caused his death.
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Common questions
When and where was Pliny the Elder born?
Gaius Plinius Secundus arrived in Como during 23 or 24 AD. His father was an equestrian named Gaius Plinius Celer and his mother bore the name Marcella.
What military posts did Pliny the Elder hold between 46 AD and 50 AD?
Pliny entered the Roman army as a junior officer at age 23 in 46 AD and served under Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo in Germania Inferior. He later transferred to Germania Superior under Publius Pomponius Secundus and fought against the Chatti during his fourth year of service in 50 AD.
Which administrative provinces did Vespasian appoint Pliny the Elder to govern starting in 70 AD?
Vespasian appointed Pliny to Gallia Narbonensis early in 70 AD followed by Africa from 70 to 72 AD. He then governed Hispania Tarraconensis between 72 and 74 AD before taking his final post in Gallia Belgica from 74 to 76 AD.
How many volumes did Pliny the Elder write and which work survives today?
Pliny wrote seven works spanning 102 volumes but only Natural History survives today. The thirty-seven volume Natural History became his final masterpiece completed around 77 AD and remains the largest single surviving work from the Roman Empire.
When and how did Pliny the Elder die during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius?
On the 24th of August at one afternoon Pliny received news of an unusual cloud while commanding the fleet at Misenum. Hot toxic gases engulfed the group when they fled later that night and he died leaving no external injuries behind three days after the plume dispersed.