Avunculus Meus - Section 1
Passage Analysis
What Happens
Pliny the Younger describes his uncle's incredibly structured daily routine, showing an almost obsessive dedication to learning and work. His uncle starts before dawn with meetings with Emperor Vespasian (who also worked through the night), then moves to his official duties. After returning home, he devotes every remaining moment to study. His afternoon routine is carefully planned: light lunch following traditional customs, sunbathing while having books read aloud and taking detailed notes, cold water bath, brief snack and minimal sleep, then more study until dinner. Even during dinner, he continues reading and note-taking, though more quickly. Pliny emphasises his uncle's philosophy that every book, no matter how poor, contains something useful - he literally took notes on everything he read.
Historical Context
This letter gives us insight into the lifestyle of Rome's educated elite in the 1st century AD. Pliny the Elder held important official positions under Emperor Vespasian, requiring early morning meetings - Roman emperors often worked unusual hours to fit their administrative duties around public appearances. The mention of following "ancestral custom" for light daytime meals reflects Roman dining traditions where the main meal (cena) was in the evening. Having books read aloud while taking notes was common practice for wealthy Romans who had slaves or freedmen to read for them. Cold water bathing was considered healthy and invigorating. The practice of making excerpts (excerpta) from all reading was a standard scholarly method for building personal reference libraries before printing existed. This systematic approach to learning was typical of Roman intellectual culture.
Questions to Consider
- What does this routine reveal about Roman attitudes towards time management and the value of learning?
- How does the phrase "as if it were another day" after his nap suggest his approach to maximising productivity?
- What does his philosophy that "no book is so bad that it's not useful in some part" tell us about his intellectual curiosity?
- How do the specific details about food, bathing, and sleep show the integration of physical health with intellectual pursuits?
- What does reading and note-taking even during meals suggest about his priorities and character?
