Pliny the Younger

===Childhood===

Pliny the Younger was born in ''Novum Comum'' ([[Como]], Northern [[Italy (Roman Empire)|Italy]]) around 61 AD, the son of Lucius Caecilius Cilo, born there, and his wife Plinia Marcella, a sister of [[Pliny the Elder]].<ref name="salway">{{cite book|author=Salway, B. |date=1994|title=Journal of Roman Studies|volume=84|pages= 124–145}}</ref> He was the grandson of [[Roman Senate|Senator]] and landowner Gaius Caecilius, revered his uncle, [[Pliny the Elder]] (who at this time was extremely famous around the Roman Empire because of his intelligence), and provided sketches of how his uncle worked on the ''[[Naturalis Historia]]''.<ref>Pliny ''Letters'' 3.5.8–12. See English translation ([https://www.livius.org/pi-pm/pliny/pliny_e2.html Plinius the Elder (2)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130118090842/http://www.livius.org/pi-pm/pliny/pliny_e2.html |date=January 18, 2013 }}) and Latin text ([http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/pliny.ep3.html C. PLINII CAECILII SECVNDI EPISTVLARVM LIBER TERTIVS]).</ref>

Cilo died at an early age when Pliny was still young.  As a result, the boy probably lived with his mother. His guardian and preceptor in charge of his education was [[Lucius Verginius Rufus]],<ref>Pliny ''Letters'' 2.1.1. See English translation ([http://www.attalus.org/old/pliny2.html]).</ref> famed for quelling a revolt against [[Nero]] in 68 AD. After being first tutored at home, Pliny went to Rome for further education. There he was taught [[rhetoric]] by [[Quintilian]], a great teacher and author, and Nicetes Sacerdos of Smyrna. It was at this time that Pliny became closer to his uncle Pliny the Elder. When Pliny the Younger was 17 or 18 in 79 AD, his uncle Pliny the Elder died attempting to rescue victims of the [[Eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79|Vesuvius eruption]], and the terms of the Elder Pliny's will passed his estate to his nephew. In the same document, the younger Pliny was [[adoption in ancient Rome|adopted]] by his uncle. As a result, Pliny the Younger changed his name from ''Gaius Caecilius Cilo'' to ''Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus'' (his official title was ''Gaius Plinius Luci filius Caecilius Secundus'').<ref>{{cite book|author=Radice, Betty |title=The Letters of the Younger Pliny|publisher=Penguin Classics |date=1975|page =13}}</ref>

There is some evidence that Pliny had a sibling. A memorial erected in Como (now {{CIL|5|5279}}) repeats the terms of a will by which the ''[[aedile]]'' Lucius Caecilius Cilo, son of Lucius, established a fund, the interest of which was to buy oil (used for soap) for the baths of the people of Como. The trustees are apparently named in the inscription: "L. Caecilius Valens and P. Caecilius Secundus, sons of Lucius, and the ''contubernalis'' Lutulla." The word ''contubernalis'' describing Lutulla is the military term meaning "tent-mate", which can only mean that she was living with Lucius, not as his wife. The first man mentioned, L. Caecilius Valens, is probably the older son. Pliny the Younger confirms<ref>{{cite book|title=Letters|chapter=I.8, To Saturninus|quote=I am compelled to the discourse of my own largesse, as well as those of my ancestors.}}</ref> that he was a trustee for the largesse "of my ancestors". It seems unknown to Pliny the Elder, so Valens' mother was probably not his sister Plinia; perhaps Valens was Lutulla's son from an earlier relationship.{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}