by Daisy Dunn
Neoptolemus (son of Achilles), 92
Nepos, Cornelius, 19, 133*
Nero, Emperor, 25–6, 30, 49, 53, 88, 152, 193, 231, 235; death of (ad 68), 54, 57, 97; murders wife Poppaea, 25, 148–9; persecution of Christians, 26, 153, 231; Petronius as ‘arbiter of excellence’, 27, 134, 139; plot against (ad 65), 27, 99, 102; and Thrasea Paetus, 148–9
Nerva, Emperor, 27, 180, 181–3, 212, 215
Nicomedia (modern Izmit), 226, 228–9
nightingales, 143
Nile, river, 213–14, 218
olive trees, 203–4
Olympias (female doctor), 192
Orata, Sergius, 67
oratory and rhetoric, 28, 45–9, 139, 181, 214, 215–18, 220; Pliny’s Panegyricus (speech, ad 100), 28, 214, 215–18, 220, 222–3; relation to history, 222–3; Tacitus’ funeral oration for Verginius Rufus, 36–7
Orrery, 5th Earl of, 160–1
Ortelius, Abraham, 131–2
Otho, Emperor, 55
Oufentina tribe, 75
Ovid, 109–10, 118, 159, 184
Paetus, Caecina, 147–8
Panaetius (philosopher), 96
pantomimes, 216
Parrhasius of Ephesus, 168, 169
Parthian empire, 216
Pater, Walter, The Renaissance (1873), 125
St. Peter, 230
Petronius (satirical writer), 27, 134, 139
Philostratus (writer), 88
Pisanello, 168–9
Piso, Gaius Calpurnius, 27
Plato’s Academy, 162–3
Plinia (Pliny’s mother), 3, 4, 6, 10, 12–14, 16, 37
Pliniana (villa on Lake Como), 122–3
Pliny the Elder: as admiral of the fleet, 4, 6–7, 18, 58; Como as birthplace, 20, 239–40, 241; creative mind of, 44–5; curiosity of, 20–1; death of, 12, 29, 37, 38, 39, 60, 238; dispute over birthplace of, 18–20, 115, 129, 130–2, 240; as historian, 4, 18, 24–5, 53; Matrone claims skeleton find, 135–7, 136; military service in Germania, 20–1, 22, 23–4, 55–6, 90, 94; as more celebrated than Pliny, 238; as naturalist, 4, 20–1, 30–1, 100–1, 105, 109, 110, 113, 238; ‘procuratorships’ overseas, 57–8; as relentless worker, 52–3, 58; small handwriting, 29; social background, 20; at Stabiae, 7–8, 10–11, 12; statues of in Verona and Como, 19, 239–40, 241, 242; and Stoicism, 96–7, 100–1; and Titus, 55, 56, 58, 59, 115; and Vespasian, 57–8; villa near Perugia, 161, 169–70, 185–6; vita vigilia est idea, 58–9, 71, 206; The Ambiguities of Grammar, 27, 53; Of the German Wars, 21; Medicina Plinii, 31; On Throwing the Javelin from Horseback, 23; see also Natural History (Pliny the Elder)
Pliny the Younger: and ad 79 eruption, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12–14, 15, 16, 18, 104; ambition of, 60–1, 76; as ardent gardener, 113–14, 162–3, 176; belief in ghosts, 80–2; candidates for father of, 127; and Christianity, 28–9, 229–36, 240–1; Como as birthplace, 20, 31, 32, 121, 126–9, 138–9, 239–41; confused with elder namesake, 17–18; conscious of time slipping by, 220–2; as consul, 214–15; and Corellius Rufus’ death, 196–7; Curator of Tiber and Rome’s sewers, 218–19; death of, 237; death of first wife, 179, 195; disdain for animal entertainments, 74; disdain for shellfish, 67–8; dispute over birthplace of, 18–20, 115, 129, 130–2, 240; and Domitian, 27, 28, 89–92, 104–5, 150–5, 178–9, 186–8, 216, 237–8; education as important to, 138–41, 241; eye problems, 77, 78, 80, 172; first marriage, 69, 117, 179, 195; friendship with Tacitus, 35–6, 37, 76, 140, 172–4, 237; gifts and generosity to Como, 133–4, 138–41, 240, 241; as great chronicler, 27–8, 238; and harbour at Centum Cellae, 218–19; and history-writing, 222–3; ‘imperial legate’ to Bithynia, 224–36, 240–1; influence/legacy of uncle, 29–30; and inheritability notion, 137, 138; inheritance from uncle, 29, 32; as Interpreter of Bird Signs, 214; ius trium liberorum honour, 225; as lawyer, 45–7, 48–9, 50–1, 69, 70, 83–5, 103, 104, 139, 174; as less celebrated than uncle, 238; lessons learnt from sickness, 190–1; mean-heartedness over Regulus’ boy, 137–8, 143; on merits of variety, 63, 113, 120; as meticulous and pedantic, 44–5, 62–3; Mettius Carus’ list of accusations, 154, 178–9, 186; military service in Syria, 97–8, 99–100, 116–17; on the Natural History, 96–7; Odysseus as model for, 48; oratory of, 28, 45–9, 181, 214, 215–18, 220, 222–3; Panegyricus (speech, ad 100), 28, 214, 215–18, 220, 222–3; and poetry, 114–17, 118–21, 170; and posterity, 221–2, 238; as praetor, 95–6; on pre-eruption tremors, 8; prefect of the Treasury of Saturn, 176–7, 183, 212, 213; and properties of stone, 220; as provincial governor, 83, 224–36; rigorous working routine, 60–2, 63, 111–12; second marriage, 117–18, 170, 171, 191, 192–5, 197, 224–5; seeks revenge for Stoics, 155, 180–1, 182–3; as senator, 26, 28, 45, 151–2, 154, 180–1; serious illness (c. ad 97), 188, 189–91, 195–6; sexuality, 118–19; and snow imagery, 63, 64–5; and spring/fountain at Torno, 121, 122, 123, 124, 126, 131, 218; statues of in Como, 19, 214, 239–40, 241, 242; and Stoicism, 97–8, 99–100, 101, 102–5, 141, 151–2, 155, 179, 190, 241; strict routine of, 171–2, 173; thought processes of, 171–2; and the Tiber, 211–12, 218; and Trajan, 27, 28–9, 212–13, 214–19, 224, 225, 227–9, 231–2, 234–6, 237; on travel, 126; treatment of slaves, 76–7; and trial of Stoics, 150, 151–2, 179; view of natural world, 101, 105, 113–14, 142–4, 238; views on art, 133–4; views on suicide, 102–3, 104, 145, 146–8, 196–7; and wine drinking, 208; see also homes and estates of Pliny; letters of Pliny; Tuscan villa and estate (near Perugia)
poetry, 114–17, 118–21, 170; literary game between Pliny and Tacitus, 173–4; of Percy Shelley, 122, 123
poisons, 101, 102; antidotes, 102*
Polidori, Dr John, 121
Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, 233
Polyxena (Trojan princess), 92
Pompeia Celerina, 202
Pompeii, 4, 7, 8, 12, 41, 193; excavations at (eighteenth-century), 41–2; Fiorelli’s casts of the dead, 42–3, 82; ‘House of the Golden Bracelet’, 43
Pompey the Great, 102*, 225–6
Pomponianus (friend of Pliny the Elder), 7–8, 10
Pomponius Secundus, 24, 90
Pontus (in Asia Minor), 23, 72, 102*, 110, 229–30
Poppaea (wife of Nero), 25, 148–9
Portus, near Ostia, 218
Poseidonius (Stoic), 96
postal system, 227–8
Praetorian Guard, 23, 27, 55, 182
Praxiteles (sculptor), 167–8, 169
precious stones, 30, 65, 66–7, 100, 164, 165, 166–7
Priscus, Marius, 83–5
Prusa (Bursa), 227–8
Publicius Certus, 180–1, 183
Punic Wars, 90, 112, 220
Pythagoreanism, 96, 98–9
Quintilian, 48, 138, 140
Rectina (friend of Pliny the Elder), 6, 7
Regulus, Marcus Aquilius, 49–51, 137–8, 143, 151, 154, 178, 180, 237
religion: festivals, 44, 72–3, 75–7, 127, 184–5; Pliny as Interpreter of Bird Signs, 214; Pliny’s Temple of Ceres, 184–5, 213; Roman gods, 4, 5, 15, 44, 59, 72, 96, 127; Stoic view of, 96; and suicide, 54; Vestal Virgins, 91–3, 95
Renaissance, 18, 165–9, 241–2
rings, 121, 123, 124, 126, 163–5, 167
roads, 73, 161
Rodari, Giovanni, 240
Roman empire: administration of provinces, 28–9, 53, 57–8, 83–4, 87, 97, 224–37; Annals of Tacitus, 35, 215; archives, 25–6; civil war following Nero’s death, 54–5, 57, 97–8; delatio or ‘informing’, 26–7, 49–50, 178, 185, 186, 215–16, 232–3, 235; Diocletian’s tetrarchy, 237; expansion of, 83, 86–7, 112; extent under Claudius, 23; extent under Trajan, 216–17; Flavian dynasty, 27, 28, 53, 87, 178; German Wars, 20, 21–4, 53, 55–6, 90–1; grain supply, 213–14; imperial fleets, 3–4, 6–7, 24; invasion of Britain (ad 43), 23; Jewish uprising (ad 66), 53–4, 55, 56–7, 87, 146–7, 182; Julio-Claudian emperors, 21–7; legal system, 45–7, 48–9, 50–1, 70, 83–5, 95, 103, 104, 139, 150–4, 174; and luxury, 86–7, 99–100, 134–5, 164–5; persecution of Christians, 26, 230–6, 240–1; revolt
of Boudicca, 68; social class, 20, 28, 30, 31; Teutoburg Forest defeat, 21–2; Vulcanalia festival, 44; ‘Year of the Four Emperors’ (ad 69), 54–5, 57; see also legal system
Rome: Arch of Titus, 146–7; Centumviral Court, 45–7, 48–9, 50–1, 70, 95, 104, 139, 174; Circus Maximus, 163; Curio’s theatre, 174–5; damnatio memoriae process, 186–8, 237–8; Esquiline Hill, 32, 60, 147, 201; fire (ad 64), 26; Flavian amphitheatre (‘Colosseum’), 87, 88, 173; Ludi Romani, 213; Nero’s Golden House, 30; Pantheon, 166; Pliny’s water-based engineering role, 218–19; Temple of Saturn, 176–7; the Tiber, 211, 218; Trajan’s Column, 217, 218
Sacerdos, Nicetes, 138
Saturnalia, festival of, 72–3, 75–7
Schinkel, Karl Friedrich, 203
Scipio, Lucius, 134
Seneca the Younger, 27, 96, 99, 102, 149, 206
Septicius Clarus (equestrian), 68, 69
sexually transmitted diseases, 146
Shelley, Mary, 121–2
Shelley, Percy Bysshe, 121–3
Silius Italicus (poet), 89–90, 220, 221
soothsayers and diviners, 51
Spartacus uprising, 5
Spazi, Lorenzo degli, 239
Stabiae (port town), 7–8, 10–11, 12, 135
Statius (poet), 193
Steele, Sir Richard, 195
Stoicism: ekpyrosis, 14, 96; expulsion of philosophers from Italy, 150, 153, 154, 155, 181, 231; Pliny seeks revenge after trial, 155, 179, 180–1, 182–3; Pliny supports victims of Domitian, 154, 179, 180, 183; and Pliny the Elder, 96–7, 100–1; and Pliny the Younger, 97–8, 99–100, 101, 102–5, 141, 151–2, 155, 179, 190; prominence of in Rome, 96; and Thrasea Paetus, 148, 149; trial of Stoics under Domitian, 150–2, 178, 179, 181; view of death and mortality, 101–2, 104; view of natural world, 96–7, 99–101, 105
Strabo (geographer), 5
Strato of Lampsacus, 9
Suetonius, 12*; in Britain with Hadrian, 68; on death of Titus, 87; and Domitian, 89, 153, 177, 237–8; ius trium liberorum honour, 225; as lawyer, 69, 70, 71; Lives of the Caesars, 25–6, 68, 69, 87, 89, 153, 177, 230; in Pliny’s letters, 68–9
suicide, 54, 101–3, 104, 145, 146–8, 196–7
summer solstice, 198–9
‘sumptuary’ laws, 232
Swift, Jonathan, ‘Thoughts on Various Subjects’ (1727), 83
Syria, 97–8, 99–100, 102, 116–17
Tacitus, Cornelius: on the Chatti, 90; and Domitian, 91, 151, 152; friendship with Pliny, 35–6, 37, 76, 140, 172–4, 237; funeral oration for Verginius, 36–7; as governor of Asia, 227; as lawyer, 83, 84; on Nerva, 181, 212; on persecution of Christians, 231; Pliny’s letters to, 3, 35–6, 37–8, 40, 43, 49, 76, 172–4; on Tiberius, 185; on Trajan, 215; witnesses trial of Stoics, 150, 151, 152; Annals, 35, 215
Tambora volcano eruption (1816), 121
Tarraconensis province, Hispania, 58
Tertullian (Christian writer), 235–6
Thrasea Paetus, 96, 148–51
Tiber, river, 211–12, 218
Tiberius, Emperor, 21, 73, 185, 230
Tifernum Tiberinum (Città di Castello), 160, 161, 176, 184–5, 212–13
Titian, 168–9
Titius Aristo, 102–3, 104
Titus, Emperor: and 79 ad eruption, 59–60; background of, 55, 89; and conquest of Judaea, 55, 56–7, 87, 147, 230, 234; death of, 87–9; and German Wars, 55, 56; and Pliny the Elder, 55, 56, 58, 59, 115; rule of, 27, 58, 59–60, 114, 186
Trajan, Emperor: adopted by Nerva, 182–3; and Christianity, 28–9, 231–2, 234–6; and grain supply, 213–14; and Licinius Sura, 124; military commands/feats, 182, 215, 216–18; Pliny’s letters to, 28, 227–8, 231–2, 234, 235, 236; rule of, 27, 28–9, 212–17, 218–20, 224, 225–37
Trojan War, 4, 13–14, 58–9, 92
Tuscan villa and estate (near Perugia), 48–9, 120, 159–62, 187, 203, 213; archaeological discoveries at, 78, 162, 164, 169; art and sculpture at, 169–70, 185, 238; ball court at, 159*; crops grown at, 199–200, 203–6, 207–8; estate management, 176, 185, 198–201, 202–6, 207–8; extent of estate, 173; floating dining table, 124; hippodrome garden, 124, 162–3, 169, 203; Pliny buys adjoining estate, 202; Pliny inherits, 29, 185–6; Pliny’s routine at, 171–4; roof tile discovery, 162, 164; soil quality at, 201, 203; summer solstice at, 198–9; Temple of Ceres, 184–5, 213; vineyards at, 204–6, 207–8
Vadimon, Lake (Lago di Bassano), 125–6
Varus (Roman legate), 21–2
Vasari, Giorgio, 129, 165–6, 168, 242
Vercelli, Bishop Bonomio of, 239–40
Verginius Rufus, 36–7
Verona, 18–20, 74, 115, 240
Vertumnus (god of the seasons), 205
Vespasian, Emperor: becomes emperor, 55, 56; and Jewish War, 53–4, 56, 87, 147; rule of, 27, 53, 56–8, 87, 148, 149, 185–6; and son Domitian, 27, 177
Vestal Virgins, 91–3, 95
Vesuvius, 6*; eruption (ad 1631), 40; eruption (ad 79), 3, 4–8, 9–16, 37–8, 39, 41–5, 59–60, 104; eruptions in 1760s, 40–1; precise date of ad 79 eruption, 43–5; pre-eruption tremors, 8; return to normality after eruption, 193
Vetera (modern Xanten), 55–6
Victor Emmanuel II, King of Italy, 74
vines and vineyards, 5, 204–6, 208, 212; Domitian bans planting of, 206–7
Virgil: and Stoicism, 96; Aeneid, 4, 13–14, 15, 35, 47, 54, 70–1, 75; Eclogues, 128; Georgics, 60, 171
Vitellius, Emperor, 55
Vitruvius, De Architectura, 19, 211, 219
volcanoes, 4–6, 20–1; ash from, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13–14, 16; ash in concrete, 219–20; and death of livestock, 8, 9; Plinian clouds, 38, 40; pumice from, 7, 8, 10, 38, 42, 125–6; pyroclastic flow, 11–12, 40; sickness in survivors of eruptions, 15–16; Tambora eruption (1816), 121; see also Vesuvius
wine, 5, 63–4, 190, 205–8
Xerxes, King of Persia, 221
Yellowstone National Park, 20–1
Zeno, 97
Zeuxis of Heraclea, 168
Acknowledgements
While working on this book I endeavoured to pay homage to the Plinys by adapting my writing life, as they did, to the seasons, plunging myself into Pliny’s snow in the bitterest winters and ploughing through his harvests in the dog days of summer (there have inevitably been moments when I have been shivering under a blanket and writing about drought). In the process I have come to know something of Pliny’s temptations. Forbidden from having what is too easily within reach, I have held an oyster in my palm, pressed its shell against my nose, caressed its silky hollow, but not tasted its meat. I am horribly allergic to oysters.
I thank everyone who has sustained me through the seasons of this project. I am extremely grateful to my agent Georgina Capel, and Rachel Conway and Irene Baldoni. My editor, Arabella Pike, and copyeditor, Kate Johnson, have been wonderful, and I warmly thank them both. At HarperCollins I also thank Iain Hunt, Katherine Patrick and Marianne Tatepo.
I was very privileged to have as my first reader Barbara Levick, Emeritus Fellow in Classics at St Hilda’s College, Oxford. Barbara offered a number of helpful suggestions on my text and I am so grateful to her for the time she gave me. Paul Cartledge, A. G. Leventis Senior Research Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge and A. G. Leventis Professor of Greek Culture Emeritus in the Faculty of Classics, has been a pillar of support from the beginning, and I am hugely thankful for the incisive notes he made on my manuscript.
The Plinys have sent me to many places. I’d like to thank the staff of the London Library, British Library, the Joint Library of the Hellenic and Roman Societies and Institute of Classical Studies, Senate House Library and the Bodleian. The Palazzo Vecchio in Florence and Museo Civico in Como were very accommodating. The Villa Pliniana/ Sereno Hotels on Lake Como were kind enough to provide me with private access to the building and ‘Pliny’s spring’. Mena Terranova of the Museo Storico dell’Arte Sanitaria in Rome updated me on progress in the investigation into the ‘skull of Pliny the Elder’. The Charle
s Dickens Museum in London, and particularly Louisa Price, were very helpful.
Thanks also to Sir David Attenborough, Amanda Claridge, Peter Hicks, Emily Kearns, Ellida Minelli, Andrew Roberts and Greg Woolf, who answered my sometimes esoteric questions.
James Cullen was the most patient and entertaining of friends on my Italian research trips. Lucy Purcell I thank for her friendship, encouragement, and remarkable strength. Simon has been marvellously supportive.
I could not have written this book without the love and support of my parents, Amanda and Jeremy, my sister, Alice and my grandparents, Don and Wendy – to whom this book is dedicated. I am forever grateful to you all.
About the Author
DAISY DUNN is a classicist, art historian and cultural critic. She read Classics at Oxford, before winning a scholarship to the Courtauld and completing a doctorate in Classics and History of Art at UCL. She writes and reviews for a number of newspapers and magazines, and is editor of Argo, a Greek culture journal. Her first books, Catullus’ Bedspread and The Poems of Catullus, were published in 2016.
BY THE SAME AUTHOR
Catullus’ Bedspread: The Life of Rome’s Most Erotic Poet
The Poems of Catullus: A New Translation
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