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Eruption of Vesuvius.

Pliny is known for his hundreds of surviving letters, which are an invaluable historical source for the period. Many are to reigning emperors or to notables such as the historian, Tacitus. Pliny himself was a notable figure, serving as an imperial magistrate under Trajan.

Pliny's

Spending most of his spare time studying, writing or investigating

Pliny the Elder was born in Como, not at Verona

Gaius Plinius Secundus (AD 23 – August 25, 79), better known as Pliny the Elder, was an author, naturalist, and natural philosopher as well as naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire and personal friend of the emperor Vespasian

Agrippina was the first daughter and fourth living child of Agrippina the Elder and Germanicus. She was the namesake of her mother.

Family Gens Julia Gens Claudia Julio-Claudian family tree Category:Julio-Claudian Dynasty

It claims a lawless king, the slayer of his mother,

Nero's rule is often associated with tyranny and extravagance.[3] He is known for a number of executions, including those of his mother[4] and step-brother, as the emperor who "fiddled while Rome burned",

Nero was born with the name Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus on 15 December, AD 37, in Antium, near Rome.

Nero became emperor at 16, the youngest emperor up until that time.[24] Ancient historians describe Nero's early reign as being strongly influenced by his mother Agrippina, his tutor Lucius Annaeus Seneca, and the Praetorian Prefect Sextus Afranius Burrus, especially in the first year.

The Great Fire of Rome erupted on the night of 18 July to 19 July, AD 64

All surviving sources, except Pliny the Elder, characterize Caligula as insane. However it is not known whether they are speaking figuratively or literally. Additionally, given Caligula's unpopularity among the surviving sources, it is difficult to separate fact from fiction. Recent sources are divided in attempting to ascribe a medical reason for Caligula's behavior, citing as possibilities encephalitis, epilepsy or meningitis. The question of whether or not Caligula was insane remains unanswered. Philo of Alexandria, Josephus and Seneca also state Caligula was insane, but describe this madness as a personality trait that came through experience.[42][129][130] Seneca states that Caligula became arrogant, angry and insulting once becoming emperor and uses his personality flaws as examples his readers can learn from.[131] According to Josephus, power made Caligula incredibly conceited and led him to think he was a god.[42] Philo of Alexandria reports that Caligula became ruthless after nearly dying of his illness in 39.[132] Juvenal reports he was given a magic potion that drove him insane. Suetonius said that Caligula suffered from "falling sickness," or Epilepsy, when he was young.[133] Modern historians have theorized that Caligula lived with a daily fear of seizures.[134] Despite swimming being a part of imperial education, Caligula could not swim.[135] Epileptics are encouraged not to swim because light reflecting off water can induce seizures.[136] Additionally, Caligula reportedly talked to the full moon.[69] Epilepsy was also long associated with the moon.[137] Some modern historians think that Caligula suffered from hyperthyroidism.[138] This diagnosis is mainly attributed to Caligula's irritability and his "stare" as described by Pliny the Elder.

his mother was the half-sister of Cato the Younger, and later became Julius Caesar's mistress

he was a young man and Brutus