[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”Pliny the Younger, Epistles 1.15″ text_orientation=”center” _builder_version=”4.16″ title_font=”|700|||||||” title_text_align=”center” background_color=”#7db3e0″ vertical_offset_tablet=”0″ horizontal_offset_tablet=”0″ z_index_tablet=”0″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” title_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” title_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” content_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” content_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” content_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” subhead_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” subhead_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” subhead_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” content_link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” content_link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” content_link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” content_ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” content_ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” content_ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” content_ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” content_ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” content_ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” content_quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” content_quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” content_quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” button_one_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” button_one_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” button_one_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” button_two_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” button_two_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” button_two_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_style_image=”preset6″ box_shadow_blur_image_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_horizontal_button_one_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_button_one_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_button_one_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_button_one_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_horizontal_button_two_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_button_two_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_button_two_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_button_two_tablet=”0px” text_shadow_style=”preset5″ text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” global_colors_info=”{}”]translation and commentary by Troi Loken (’25)
\n[\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ theme_builder_area=”post_content” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” type=”4_4″ theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus, simply known as Pliny the Younger (c. 60\u2013112 CE), was a writer and politician during Rome\u2019s \u2018high empire\u2019, beginning his political career under Emperor Domitian and reaching consulship during Emperor Trajan\u2019s reign (Gibson 2020, xv-xvi). He\u2019s most popular for his eyewitness account of his adoptive uncle\u2019s death during the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 CE, which Younger Pliny shared in a correspondence he later published in a volume of his <\/span>Epistles<\/span><\/i>, or <\/span>Letters<\/span><\/i>. He published nine volumes of literary correspondence, called his <\/span>Epistles<\/span><\/i>, over the last two decades of his life, edited and revised by himself, providing us with \u201crare glimpses of the \u2018domestic\u2019 life of the Roman elite\u201d (ibid., 4).<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ inner_shadow=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ vertical_offset_tablet=”0″ horizontal_offset_tablet=”0″ z_index_tablet=”0″ box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Trans. Title” _builder_version=”4.16″ vertical_offset_tablet=”0″ horizontal_offset_tablet=”0″ z_index_tablet=”0″ text_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Translation” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ background_color=”#ffffff” vertical_offset_tablet=”0″ horizontal_offset_tablet=”0″ height=”450px” overflow-x=”scroll” custom_padding=”10px|10px|10px|10px” z_index_tablet=”0″ text_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px” global_colors_info=”{}”]Gaius Plinius says greetings to dear Septicius Clarus,<\/span><\/p>\n Listen up, you! You promised to come to my dinner, and never came? I say you must make up for this: you will repay the dinner\u2019s cost to the last penny, and it was not cheap. I had served each guest a salad, three snails, two eggs, barley water with honeyed wine and snow\u2014for the snow you will count also, indeed it\u2019s among the expensive items which perish on the tray\u2014olives, beetroots, gourds, onions, and another thousand items no less expensive.<\/span><\/p>\n You would\u2019ve heard comedians or a reciter or a lute player or<\/span>\u2014so great is my kindness\u2014all of them. But <\/span>you <\/span><\/i>preferred oysters and sows\u2019 wombs and sea urchins and dancing girls from Gades at <\/span>another\u2019s<\/span><\/i> house, I don\u2019t know whose. You will give compensation, I won\u2019t say how. Harshly you did this: you have refused a pleasure\u2014I don\u2019t know if to yourself, certainly <\/span>myself<\/span><\/i>, but yet, indeed, <\/span>yourself<\/span><\/i>. How much we could\u2019ve enjoyed ourselves, could\u2019ve laughed, could\u2019ve entertained ourselves with literature! You can eat fancier at several houses, but nowhere more joyfully, with more abandon, with less reserve than at mine. In short, try my dinner, and afterward, if you\u2019re not more capable of excusing yourself from other dinners, excuse yourself from mine forever. Goodbye.<\/span> [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ vertical_offset_tablet=”0″ horizontal_offset_tablet=”0″ height=”450px” overflow-x=”scroll” custom_padding=”10px|10px|10px|10px” z_index_tablet=”0″ text_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Septicius Clarus:<\/b> He was a man of equestrian rank within Pliny\u2019s generation, who later rose to the praetorian prefecture\u2014head of the emperor\u2019s bodyguard, having authority over most military activity\u2014in c. 199 under Hadrian\u2019s reign (Sherwin-White 1966, 85; Gutsfield 2006). Also, he\u2019s associated with Suetonius Tranquillus and is the addressee in three other letters from Pliny: I.1, VII.28, and VIII.1.<\/span><\/p>\n to the last penny:<\/b> an <\/span>as,<\/i> referring to \u2018one\u2019, is the basic unit of weight, area, and length, and as a unit of weight, it and its divisions can represent \u201cdenominations of coinage\u201d (Mlasowsky 2006). With it being one of the smallest common coin denominations, it is typically conflated with the American penny. Click here <\/a><\/span>to see an as<\/em> or dupondius<\/em> lead coin ca. 129-130 CE, depicting Emperor Hadrian on the obverse and Liberalitas on the reverse (from the <\/span>British Museum<\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n a salad: <\/b>As seen in Martial\u2019s <\/span>Epigrams<\/i> 10.48 and 11.52, lettuce (the <\/span>lactuca<\/i> I translate here as \u201ca salad\u201d) was known as a laxative and remedy for constipation. <\/span><\/p>\n barley-water: <\/b>halica<\/i> refers to hay or spelt, which was made into a broth as \u201can ancient form of barley-water\u201d and was considered a poor man’s drink (Sherwin-White 1966, 121). The line here highlights Pliny\u2019s ignorance of the lower class, with him mixing <\/span>halica<\/i> with <\/span>mulsum<\/i> \u201choney-wine,\u201d which was a delicacy.<\/span><\/p>\n snow:<\/b> Romans used snow as we would nowadays use ice (Westcott 1968, 144).<\/span><\/p>\n comedians or a reciter or a lute player:<\/b> Roman diners sometimes provided entertainment, like how some restaurants and bars host musicians and comedians except in the private sphere with select guests. With mime and pantomime overtaking theater, recitations became the standard avenue for the educated class to hear classical plays (Sherwin-White 1966, 121). <\/span>Comoedos<\/i> recounted comedies; <\/span>lectores<\/i> recited poetry, oratory, or history; and <\/span>lyristes<\/i> played solo instruments.<\/span><\/p>\n oysters and sows\u2019 wombs and sea urchins:<\/b> all of these listed dishes are expensive luxuries in Rome, once again showcasing Pliny\u2019s higher class. <\/span>Echini<\/i> \u201csea urchins\u201d were used as remedies for several ailments like bladder stones and hair loss (H\u00fcnem\u00f6rder 2006).<\/span><\/p>\n dancing girls from Gades:<\/b> Gades Gemina, located at modern-day Cadiz, Spain, were twin cities: the Phoenician settlement on the island of Erythea and the Roman settlement on the longer island east of Erythea (Niemeyer and Barcel\u00f3 2006). Click here<\/a> for a map showing the location of Gades. Its dancers were famous, but Pliny here hosts a solo musician instead<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n with more abandon, with less reserve:<\/b> Sherwin-Wite notes that this comment could be \u201ca political reference in <\/span>incautius<\/i> to freedom from spies and suspicions as in IV. 9. 6 and IX. 13. 10\u201d (1966, 121-122).<\/span> [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ vertical_offset_tablet=”0″ horizontal_offset_tablet=”0″ z_index_tablet=”0″ text_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px” global_colors_info=”{}”]Carlon, Jacqueline. 2016. <\/span>Selected Letters from Pliny the Younger\u2019s <\/span><\/i>Epistulae. Oxford Greek and Latin College Commentaries. New York: Oxford University Press.<\/span><\/p>\n Cartledge, Paul A., and Johannes Heinrichs. 2006. “Freedmen”. In <\/span>Brill’s New Pauly Online<\/span><\/i>. Brill. doi: <\/span>https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1163\/1574-9347_bnp_e414740<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Dunbabin, Katherine M. D., and William J. Slater. 2012. \u201cRoman Dining\u201d, in\u00a0 <\/span>The Oxford Handbook of Social Relations in the Roman World<\/span><\/i>, edited by Michael Peachin, 438-466. Online ed, Oxford: Oxford Academic. <\/span>https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/oxfordhb\/9780195188004.013.0021<\/span><\/a>,<\/span><\/p>\n H\u00fcnem\u00f6rder, Christian. 2006. “Sea urchin”. In <\/span>Brill’s New Pauly Online<\/span><\/i>. Brill. doi: <\/span>https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1163\/1574-9347_bnp_e1106390<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Gibson, Roy K. 2020. <\/span>Man of High Empire: The Life of Pliny the Younger.<\/span><\/i> New York: Oxford University Press. <\/span>https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/oso\/9780199948192.001.0001<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Gutsfeld, Andreas. 2006. “Praefectus praetorio”. In <\/span>Brill’s New Pauly Online<\/span><\/i>. Brill. doi: <\/span>https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1163\/1574-9347_bnp_e1007150<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Mlasowsky, Alexander. 2006. “As”. In <\/span>Brill’s New Pauly Online.<\/span><\/i> Brill. doi: <\/span>https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1163\/1574-9347_bnp_e202880<\/span><\/a><\/p>\nTranslation<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Commentary Title” _builder_version=”4.16″ vertical_offset_tablet=”0″ horizontal_offset_tablet=”0″ z_index_tablet=”0″ text_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\nCommentary<\/strong><\/h2>\n
(alternate title: We Could\u2019ve Had It All!)<\/span><\/i><\/h3>\n
\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ vertical_offset_tablet=”0″ horizontal_offset_tablet=”0″ z_index_tablet=”0″ text_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\nSources<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![Click here<\/a> for a map showing the location of Gades. Its dancers were famous, but Pliny here hosts a solo musician instead<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\nwith more abandon, with less reserve:<\/b> Sherwin-Wite notes that this comment could be \u201ca political reference in <\/span>incautius<\/i> to freedom from spies and suspicions as in IV. 9. 6 and IX. 13. 10\u201d (1966, 121-122).<\/span>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ vertical_offset_tablet=”0″ horizontal_offset_tablet=”0″ z_index_tablet=”0″ text_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\nSources<\/strong><\/h2>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ vertical_offset_tablet=”0″ horizontal_offset_tablet=”0″ z_index_tablet=”0″ text_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” text_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px” global_colors_info=”{}”]Carlon, Jacqueline. 2016. <\/span>Selected Letters from Pliny the Younger\u2019s <\/span><\/i>Epistulae. Oxford Greek and Latin College Commentaries. New York: Oxford University Press.<\/span><\/p>\nCartledge, Paul A., and Johannes Heinrichs. 2006. “Freedmen”. In <\/span>Brill’s New Pauly Online<\/span><\/i>. Brill. doi: <\/span>https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1163\/1574-9347_bnp_e414740<\/span><\/a><\/p>\nDunbabin, Katherine M. D., and William J. Slater. 2012. \u201cRoman Dining\u201d, in\u00a0 <\/span>The Oxford Handbook of Social Relations in the Roman World<\/span><\/i>, edited by Michael Peachin, 438-466. Online ed, Oxford: Oxford Academic. <\/span>https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/oxfordhb\/9780195188004.013.0021<\/span><\/a>,<\/span><\/p>\nH\u00fcnem\u00f6rder, Christian. 2006. “Sea urchin”. In <\/span>Brill’s New Pauly Online<\/span><\/i>. Brill. doi: <\/span>https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1163\/1574-9347_bnp_e1106390<\/span><\/a><\/p>\nGibson, Roy K. 2020. <\/span>Man of High Empire: The Life of Pliny the Younger.<\/span><\/i> New York: Oxford University Press. <\/span>https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/oso\/9780199948192.001.0001<\/span><\/a><\/p>\nGutsfeld, Andreas. 2006. “Praefectus praetorio”. In <\/span>Brill’s New Pauly Online<\/span><\/i>. Brill. doi: <\/span>https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1163\/1574-9347_bnp_e1007150<\/span><\/a><\/p>\nMlasowsky, Alexander. 2006. “As”. In <\/span>Brill’s New Pauly Online.<\/span><\/i> Brill. doi: <\/span>https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1163\/1574-9347_bnp_e202880<\/span><\/a><\/p>\nNiemeyer, Hans Georg, and Pedro Barcel\u00f3. 2006. “Gades”. In <\/span>Brill’s New Pauly Online.<\/span><\/i> Brill. doi: <\/span>https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1163\/1574-9347_bnp_e417420<\/span><\/a><\/p>\nSherwin-White, A. N. 1966. <\/span>The Letters of Pliny: A Historical and Social Commentary.<\/span><\/i> Oxford, Clarendon Press.<\/span><\/p>\nRadice, Betty, trans. 1969. <\/span>Letters, Volume I: Books 1-7.<\/span><\/i> Pliny the Younger, author. Loeb Classical Library 55. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.<\/span><\/p>\nWestcott, J. H. 1968. <\/span>Selected Letters of Pliny.<\/span><\/i> Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press.<\/span><\/p>\nWhiton, Christopher, ed. 2013. <\/span>Pliny the Younger: Epistles: Book II.<\/span><\/i> New York: Cambridge University Press.<\/span>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"translation and commentary by Troi Loken (’25) Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus, simply known as Pliny the Younger (c. 60\u2013112 CE), was a writer and politician during Rome\u2019s \u2018high empire\u2019, beginning his political career under Emperor Domitian and reaching consulship during Emperor Trajan\u2019s reign (Gibson 2020, xv-xvi). He\u2019s most popular for his eyewitness account of his […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4449,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-640","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/romandining\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/640","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/romandining\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/romandining\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/romandining\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4449"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/romandining\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=640"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/romandining\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/640\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":780,"href":"https:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/romandining\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/640\/revisions\/780"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/romandining\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=640"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}](\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/a\/ac\/First_Punic_War_264_BC_v3.png\"){kind=link}