Pliny the Younger

Hello! My name is Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus, but you can call me Pliny the Younger. I was born a very long time ago, around the year 61, in a beautiful town called Comum in the Roman Empire. When I was a boy, my best friends were books and scrolls! I loved to read and write more than anything. I also had a very famous uncle, Pliny the Elder, who was a brave commander and a brilliant scientist. He taught me to be curious about the world and to always keep learning.

When I was about 18 years old, something happened that I will never forget. It was the year 79. One afternoon, we saw a giant, dark cloud that looked like a huge pine tree rising from nearby Mount Vesuvius. The ground shook, and ash began to fall from the sky! It was a volcano erupting. My brave uncle got his ships ready to sail closer to help rescue people. It was the last time I ever saw him. From a safe place, my mother and I watched the sky turn dark. I wrote down everything I saw so that people would remember the power of the volcano and the bravery of my uncle.

When I grew up, I moved to the big, busy city of Rome. I became a lawyer, which meant I used my words to help people and make sure rules were followed fairly. I was good at giving speeches and helping to solve problems. Later, the emperor, a man named Trajan, asked me to be a governor. My job was to take care of a whole area of the Roman Empire, making sure the people there were safe and happy. I always tried my best to be a good and helpful leader for Rome.

Throughout my life, I kept writing. I wrote hundreds of letters to my friends, family, and even to the emperor! These weren’t just quick notes. I filled them with stories about my life, what was happening in Rome, and advice for my friends. I described our houses, the food we ate, and the parties we had. I even wrote letters to my friend, the historian Tacitus, describing exactly what happened during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. I wanted to create a picture with my words.

I lived to be about 52 years old, passing away around the year 113. The most amazing thing is that my letters were saved! For nearly two thousand years, people have been reading them. Because of my writing, we know so much about what it was like to live in ancient Rome. My words created a window to the past, and I am so happy that my stories, especially about the day Mount Vesuvius awoke, can still be shared with you today.