Unit 3: Pliny's Letters: Ghosts and Apparitions; Letters to Trajan

Pliny the Younger

A Roman lawyer, author, and magistrate during the early Roman Empire (c. 61–113 CE).

Epistulae

Letters by Pliny that offer insights into Roman society, politics, and personal life.

Supernatural accounts

Explorations of Roman beliefs regarding ghosts and apparitions.

Duty (officium)

A key Roman value reflected in Pliny's writings.

Ghost (imago)

The apparition that the philosopher Athenodorus encounters in Athens.

Haunting

Occurs until proper burial of the ghost's remains.

Curiosity and skepticism

Pliny's tone when recounting supernatural events.

Athenodorus

The philosopher who deals with the haunted house in Athens.

Bithynia

The province where Pliny served as governor.

Administrative correspondence

Letters exchanged between Pliny and Emperor Trajan.

Christians (Christiani)

Followers of Christ, discussed in Pliny's letters to Trajan.

Moderation

A principle emphasized in Trajan's replies to Pliny.

Roman provincial administration

The system governing provinces in the Roman Empire.

Rhetorical devices

Techniques used by Pliny, such as parallelism and vivid imagery.

Formal Latin prose

The clear and elegant writing style used by Pliny.

Duty, service (officium)

One of the central themes in Pliny's letters.

Superstitio

The irrational religious fears associated with ghosts.

Caution

Pliny's approach to drawing conclusions about supernatural events.

Epistula 7.27

The famous letter describing a haunted house in Athens.

Trajan

The Roman Emperor who communicated with Pliny.

Cleansing the supernatural

The act of properly burying remains to stop hauntings.

Public safety

A matter handled by Pliny in his letters as governor.

Historical importance

The significance of Pliny's letters beyond their literary value.

Rational explanation

An emphasized approach in dealing with supernatural events.

Glory (gloria)

One of the values reflected in Roman society.

Truth (veritas)

A significant philosophical concept in Pliny's writings.

Justice (iustitia)

A value that guides Roman legal and administrative practices.

Authority (auctoritas)

The power or influence held by Roman officials.

Courage (virtus)

A valued trait in Roman culture celebrated in Pliny's letters.

Wisdom (sapientia)

A quality associated with effective leadership.

Community (civitas)

The collective body of citizens within a province.

Rationality

The reliance on reason, observable evidence in Pliny's letters.

Diligence (industria)

The value of hard work, emphasized in Roman culture.

Supernatural skepticism

Pliny's critical approach to supernatural occurrences.

Responsibility (officium)

The obligation Pliny feels in his role as governor.

Philosopher's investigation

Pliny's method of observing and drawing conclusions.

Civilization (humanitas)

The refinement and distinction of Roman culture.

Self-control (temperantia)

A moral virtue that reflects moderation in actions.

Discipline (disciplina)

Training and order important in Roman values.

Fate (fatum)

Concept associated with destiny and divine will in Roman thought.

Spirits of the dead (manes)

Believed to reflect the cultural views of afterlife.

Deity (deus/dea)

God or goddess in Roman religion.

Omen (prodigium)

A sign or portent often considered in supernatural beliefs.

Cultus

Worship or religious practice in Roman society.

Hereditary privileges

The rights and honors connected to one's family lineage.

Anecdotes and reflections

Pliny's blend of personal narratives within his formal writing.

The state (res publica)

The institution governing the Roman populace.