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

Introduction

  • Pliny the Younger (Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus) was a Roman lawyer, author, and magistrate during the early Roman Empire (c. 61–113 CE).

  • His Epistulae (Letters) offer valuable insights into Roman society, politics, and personal life.

  • Two major themes in this units:

  • Supernatural accounts (Ghosts and Apparitions) — explore Roman beliefs and rational thinking.

  • Letters to Emperor Trajan — highlight Pliny’s role as governor of Bithynia and his administrative correspondence with the emperor.

  • These letters show both literary artistry and historical importance, reflecting Roman values such as duty (officium), rationality, and respect for authority.

Major parts

Part 1: Ghosts and Apparitions

Pliny recounts supernatural events with a tone of curiosity and skepticism.
Famous letter: Epistula 7.27, describing the haunted house in Athens.

  • An old philosopher, Athenodorus, rents a house haunted by a ghost (imago).

  • The ghost appears, rattling chains and leading the philosopher to the spot where its bones are buried.

  • After proper burial, the haunting ceases.

Themes:

  • Roman attitudes toward the supernatural — belief mixed with reason.

  • Pliny’s method: observes, investigates, and draws cautious conclusions.

  • Emphasis on moral order and rational explanation.

Part 2: Letters to Trajan — Administration and Duty

  • Context: Pliny served as Governor of Bithynia-Pontus (111–113 CE).

  • Letters between Pliny and Emperor Trajan show the workings of Roman provincial administration.

  • Examples:

    • Requesting guidance on handling the Christians (Book 10, Letter 96).

    • Discussing construction projects, finances, and public safety.

    • Trajan’s replies emphasize moderation, fairness, and efficiency.

  • Themes:

    • Loyalty to imperial authority.

    • The balance between autonomy and obedience.

    • Roman values: order, discipline, respect for law, and duty to Rome.

Part 3: Style and Literary Features

  • Clear, formal Latin prose — elegant yet practical.

  • Frequent use of rhetorical devices: parallelism, chiasmus, and vivid imagery.

  • Tone: respectful, rational, and reflective.

  • Pliny’s letters combine historical documentation with personal reflection, blending factual accuracy and literary craft.

Essential Terms and Definitions 

A. General Vocabulary

  • epistula, -ae (f.) — letter, correspondence

  • auctor, -oris (m.) — author, originator

  • imperium, -i (n.) — command, authority, empire

  • consilium, -i (n.) — plan, advice, council

  • officium, -i (n.) — duty, service, responsibility

  • fides, -ei (f.) — faith, trust, loyalty

  • virtus, -utis (f.) — courage, virtue, excellence

  • pietas, -atis (f.) — duty, devotion (to gods, family, country)

  • sapientia, -ae (f.) — wisdom

  • dignitas, -atis (f.) — dignity, worth, prestige

  • clementia, -ae (f.) — mercy, gentleness

  • humanitas, -atis (f.) — kindness, refinement, civilization

  • disciplina, -ae (f.) — discipline, training, order

  • veritas, -atis (f.) — truth

  • labor, -oris (m.) — work, effort, hardship

  • industria, -ae (f.) — diligence, hard work

  • studium, -i (n.) — enthusiasm, eagerness, pursuit (esp. of learning)

  • gloria, -ae (f.) — glory, fame

  • honor, -oris (m.) — honor, office, respect

B. Government and Administration

  • imperator, -oris (m.) — emperor, commander

  • princeps, -ipis (m.) — leader, first citizen, emperor

  • senatus, -us (m.) — senate

  • civitas, -atis (f.) — state, citizenship, community

  • provincia, -ae (f.) — province

  • gubernator, -oris (m.) — governor, administrator, pilot

  • legatus, -i (m.) — deputy, envoy, officer

  • praefectus, -i (m.) — prefect, official in charge

  • edictum, -i (n.) — decree, proclamation

  • res publica (f.) — the state, republic, commonwealth

  • auctoritas, -atis (f.) — authority, influence, power

  • lex, legis (f.) — law

  • mos, moris (m.) — custom, tradition

  • iustitia, -ae (f.) — justice, fairness

  • aequitas, -atis (f.) — equity, impartiality

  • ratio, -onis (f.) — reason, method, logic

  • consultum, -i (n.) — decree, resolution (e.g., senatus consultum)

C. Supernatural and Philosophical Terms

(Used in “Ghosts and Apparitions” and moral reflections)

  • imago, -inis (f.) — image, ghost, apparition

  • umbra, -ae (f.) — shadow, ghost, spirit

  • superstitio, -onis (f.) — superstition, irrational religious fear

  • specter/spectrum, -i (n.) — ghost, phantom (rare, poetic form)

  • somnium, -i (n.) — dream, vision

  • apparitio, -onis (f.) — appearance, manifestation

  • animus, -i (m.) — soul, spirit, mind

  • anima, -ae (f.) — soul, breath of life

  • mortuus, -a, -um — dead

  • sepulcrum, -i (n.) — tomb, grave

  • inferi, -orum (m. pl.) — the dead, underworld gods

  • manes, -ium (m. pl.) — spirits of the dead

  • deus, -i (m.) / dea, -ae (f.) — god, goddess

  • numen, -inis (n.) — divine power, will of a god

  • fatum, -i (n.) — fate, destiny

  • prodigium, -i (n.) — omen, sign, portent

D. Moral and Character Vocabulary

  • temperantia, -ae (f.) — moderation, self-control

  • constantia, -ae (f.) — steadfastness, consistency

  • patientia, -ae (f.) — endurance, patience

  • iustitia, -ae (f.) — justice

  • moderatio, -onis (f.) — restraint, control

  • integritas, -atis (f.) — integrity, honesty

  • sapientia, -ae (f.) — wisdom

  • misericordia, -ae (f.) — compassion, mercy

E. Terms from Letters to Trajan

  • Christiani, -orum (m. pl.) — Christians (followers of Christ)

  • culpa, -ae (f.) — fault, guilt, blame

  • poena, -ae (f.) — punishment, penalty

  • confessio, -onis (f.) — confession, acknowledgment

  • supplicium, -i (n.) — punishment, execution

  • imperium Romanum (n.) — the Roman Empire

  • rex, regis (m.) — king (sometimes used metaphorically for Christ in Pliny’s Christian letter)

  • sacrificium, -i (n.) — sacrifice, offering

  • cultus, -us (m.) — worship, religious observance

  • templum, -i (n.) — temple, shrine

F. Expressions of Thought and Reason

  • puto, putare — to think, suppose

  • credo, credere — to believe, trust

  • cogito, cogitare — to think, reflect

  • sentio, sentire — to feel, perceive

  • video, videre — to see, understand

  • dubito, dubitare — to doubt

  • scio, scire — to know

  • nescio, nescire — to not know

  • intellego, intellegere — to understand

G. Common Values and Themes

  • pietas — devotion and loyalty (to gods, family, and Rome)

  • virtus — courage, excellence, manly strength

  • gravitas — seriousness, dignity

  • dignitas — personal honor and reputation

  • fides — faith, trustworthiness

  • humanitas — culture, kindness, civility

  • disciplina — training, discipline, order

Tips for answering AP exams

  • Contextualize and know the historical background (Emperor Trajan, Roman Empire administration).

  • Analyze tone and style to identify how Pliny’s word choice reflects reason, skepticism, or respect.

  • Interpret themes such as duty (officium), rationalism, morality, and Roman values.

  • Cite Latin to support arguments with specific Latin phrases when analyzing passages.

  • Compare and contrast letters on ghosts (private reflection) with letters to Trajan (public duty).

  • Use precise vocabulary and include terms like pietas, virtus, and disciplina in essays.

  • Practice translation and focus on clarity, syntax, and maintaining Pliny’s tone.