Pliny the Elder
Biography of Pliny the Elder
Full Name and Common Aliases
Gaius Plinius Secundus, more commonly known as Pliny the Elder, was a Roman author, naturalist, and philosopher. He is often referred to simply as "Pliny" in historical texts, distinguishing him from his nephew, Pliny the Younger.
Birth and Death Dates
Pliny the Elder was born in 23 AD and met his untimely death in 79 AD during the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Pliny the Elder was a Roman citizen, and his professional life was as diverse as it was distinguished. He served as a military officer, lawyer, and procurator, but he is most renowned for his work as an author and natural philosopher.
Early Life and Background
Pliny the Elder was born in the town of Novum Comum, in the region of Cisalpine Gaul, which is present-day Como, Italy. He hailed from a family of equestrian rank, which afforded him a quality education and the opportunity to pursue a career in public service. His early education was likely influenced by the Roman emphasis on rhetoric and philosophy, which would later inform his extensive writings.
Pliny's early career was marked by military service. He served in the Roman army under the command of Emperor Vespasian in Germany, where he gained firsthand experience of the Roman Empire's vast territories. This period of his life not only honed his leadership skills but also sparked his interest in the natural world, which would become a central theme in his later works.
Major Accomplishments
Pliny the Elder's most significant accomplishment is his encyclopedic work, "Naturalis Historia" (Natural History), which is one of the largest single works to have survived from the Roman Empire. This monumental text covers a wide array of topics, including astronomy, geography, zoology, botany, mineralogy, and the arts. It is a testament to his insatiable curiosity and dedication to compiling knowledge.
In addition to his literary achievements, Pliny held several important administrative positions within the Roman Empire. He served as procurator in various provinces, where he was responsible for managing financial affairs and ensuring the smooth operation of the empire's vast bureaucracy.
Notable Works or Actions
The "Naturalis Historia" is Pliny's magnum opus and remains his most notable work. Comprising 37 books, it is an ambitious attempt to document all known knowledge of the natural world. Pliny's approach was comprehensive, drawing from over 100 sources, including Greek and Roman authors, and his own observations. The work is not only a valuable historical document but also a reflection of the Roman worldview and their understanding of nature.
Pliny's dedication to his work was evident in his daily routine. He was known for his rigorous schedule, often rising before dawn to read and write. His commitment to learning and documentation was so profound that he reportedly dictated notes while being carried in a litter or during meals.
Impact and Legacy
Pliny the Elder's impact on the fields of natural science and literature is profound. His "Naturalis Historia" served as a primary reference for scholars throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. It influenced countless scientists, including figures like Leonardo da Vinci and Galileo Galilei, who drew upon Pliny's observations and methodologies.
His work laid the groundwork for the development of encyclopedic writing, setting a precedent for future generations to compile and disseminate knowledge. Pliny's emphasis on observation and documentation also contributed to the scientific method, encouraging a systematic approach to studying the natural world.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Pliny the Elder is widely quoted and remembered for his pioneering efforts to catalog the entirety of human knowledge about the natural world. His "Naturalis Historia" is a treasure trove of information, offering insights into the scientific and cultural understanding of his time. His work is often cited for its breadth and depth, providing a window into the Roman Empire's intellectual landscape.
Moreover, Pliny's life and death are emblematic of the Roman spirit of inquiry and exploration. His tragic demise during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, while attempting to rescue friends and study the phenomenon, underscores his commitment to knowledge and his fearless pursuit of understanding. This combination of intellectual curiosity and personal bravery ensures that Pliny the Elder remains a figure of enduring fascination and respect in the annals of history.
Quotes by Pliny the Elder
Pliny the Elder's insights on:
Man has learned how to challenge both Nature and art to become the incitements to vice! His very cups he has delighted to engrave with libidinous subjects, and he takes pleasure in drinking from vessels of obscene form!
The invention of money opened a new field to human avarice by giving rise to usury and the practice of lending money at interest while the owner passes a life of idleness.
We trace out all the veins of the earth, and yet, living upon it, undermined as it is beneath our feet, are astonished that it should occasionally cleave asunder or tremble: as though, forsooth, these signs could be any other than expressions of the indignation felt by our sacred parent!
Of all wonders, this is among the greatest, that some fresh waters close by the sea spring forth as out of pipes: for the nature of the waters also ceaseth not from miraculous properties.
The world and that which, by another name, men have thought good to call Heaven (under the compass of which all things are covered), we ought to believe, in all reason, to be a divine power, eternal, immense, without beginning, and never to perish.
Hardly can it be judged whether it be better for mankind to believe that the gods have regard of us, or that they have none, considering that some men have no respect and reverence for the gods, and others so much that their superstition is a shame to them.
What is there more unruly than the sea, with its winds, its tornadoes, and its tempests? And yet in what department of her works has Nature been more seconded by the ingenuity of man than in this, by his inventions of sails and of oars?
How innocent, how happy, how truly delightful, even, would life be if we were to desire nothing but what is to be found upon the face of the earth: in a word, nothing but what is provided ready to our hands!