INTRODUCTION 



Gaius Plinius Secundus — usually called Pliny 

 the Elder to distinguish him from his nephew and 

 ward, Gaius Phnius Caecihus Secundus, whose 

 coUected correspondence has preserved such a vivid 

 picture of Roman life in the time of Trajan — belonged 

 to a family of wealth and position in the North of 

 Italy. He was born at Como in a.d. 23. After study- 

 ing at Rome he started when twenty-three years 

 old on an ofRcial career, serving in Germany under 

 L. Pomponius Secundus, and rising to the command 

 of a cavalry squadron. Seven or eight years later he 

 came back to Rome and took up the study of law. 

 During most of Nero's principate he lived in retire- 

 ment, but towards the close of it he re-entered 

 pubhc hfe and became Procurator in Spain. He held 

 this post until Vespasian won the principate, when he 

 returned to Rome and was admitted to the Emperor's 

 intimate circle ; they had been acquainted in earher 

 days when at the front in Germany. He also launched 

 into another field of activity, receiving a naval 

 commission. 



Throughout his busy career as a man of action 

 he had kept up a constant practice of study and 

 authorship. His interest in science finally cost him 

 his life, at the age of 56. He was in command of the 

 fleet at Misenum on the Bay of Naples in a.d. 79 



