First Century Writer

By Zhouchen S., 5th Grade

[2] At the age of eighteen, Pliny the Younger remarkably (ly) studied (sv) law. When (cl) he became a member of the senate in AD 86, Pliny successfully controlled the military treasury from AD 94-100. [3] Amazingly, in AD 100 Pliny increased his ranking to a consul, which (w/w) was the highest (qa) position and meant he could wear a toga with purple edges. In AD 110 Emperor Trajan named Pliny the governor of Asia Minor, which is now Turkey. Pliny’s rapid success came in large part because (bc) he was an excellent speaker. The “Panegyricus Trainni, ” was the name of Pliny’s most famous speech that praised Emperor Trajan. [6] It was inspiring. Studying law prepared Pliny for his elite (voc) political career and the great legacy (voc) that he left behind.

Pliny is also famous for writing two hundred and fifty letters published (sv) in ten intriguing (qa) books. The first nine books contained advice to friends and the tenth one mainly (ly) focused on governing and guidance from Emperor Trajan. [3] Fascinatingly, the “Epistulae,” which (w/w) is the title of the compilation of his letters, is one of the only works that survived. [6] It contained first century records. Pliny the Younger was famous for writing two letters about Mount Vesuvius’s eruption. [2] In AD 79 his uncle, who Pliny greatly revered, died because (bc) he failed to escape the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. One letter asked Emperor Trajan for advice when (cl) Pliny’s uncle died. The other one explained what happened in Mount Vesuvius’s eruption. Pliny is renowned for his hundreds of letters and people still honor his writings and his brief historical records.

Works Consulted

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Pliny the Younger". Encyclopedia Britannica, 18  Apr. 2022, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pliny-the-Younger. Accessed 31  January 2024.

"Pliny the Younger – Ancient Rome – Classical Literature." Ancient Literature - January 27,  2024, https://ancient-literature.com/rome_pliny/.