Pliny the Elder · Tacitus Were Pliny the Elder and Tacitus alive at the same time? Yes. Pliny the Elder and Tacitus were alive at the same time, from c. AD 55 to AD 79. Pliny the ElderRoman military commander and writer (AD23/24–79)Born 20s · died AD 79TacitusRoman historian and senatorBorn c. AD 55 · died c. AD 120 Saint PeterPaul the ApostlePliny the ElderNeroPlutarchTacitusPtolemy Pliny the Elder and Tacitus in bold, with some of their best-known contemporaries. Drag across to see the age each reached in any year. Faded ends mark uncertain dates.