How are the Plinys related to each other?

The correct relationship between the Plinys is that they are uncle and nephew. Gaius Plinius Secundus, commonly known as Pliny the Elder, was a renowned Roman author, naturalist, and philosopher who served as a naval and army commander in the early Roman Empire. He was highly respected for his encyclopedic work, "Natural History." His nephew, Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus, known as Pliny the Younger, followed in his uncle’s intellectual footsteps and became a notable writer and lawyer.

This uncle-nephew dynamic is significant in understanding their contributions to Roman literature and science as Pliny the Younger often wrote about his uncle's influence on his life and work in his letters. This context highlights the personal connection between the two, as well as their shared legacy in the literary and scientific domains of their time.