Plinius

Plinius is the Latin form of the Roman family name Plinius (nomen), most closely associated with two prominent writers of the first century CE: Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger. In English, the name is usually rendered as Pliny, and in other languages it appears in various forms derived from the same Latin root.

Pliny the Elder (Gaius Plinius Secundus; c. 23–79 CE) was a Roman author and naturalist noted for his ambitious encyclopedia Naturalis Historia (Natural History). The work, which covers topics ranging from astronomy to zoology and geography to botany, aimed to compile the knowledge of the natural world. Pliny the Elder died during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, an event he described in later accounts preserved through his nephew’s writings. His Naturalis Historia remained a major reference for medieval and early modern scholars.

Pliny the Younger (Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus; c. 61–c. 113 CE) was his nephew and a lawyer, administrator, and writer. He is best known for his Epistulae (Letters), a rich collection that provides insights into Roman administration, society, and daily life, as well as the correspondence with Emperor Trajan. His Panegyric to Trajan is among the notable orations attributed to him. The Younger’s eyewitness perspective on events of the early Imperial era makes his letters a key historical source.

Legacy and influence: the Plinius name is linked to the term Plinian, used in geology to describe a type of volcanic eruption based on the detailed account of Vesuvius by Pliny the Younger. The works of both Plinii contributed significantly to later literary and scientific traditions.