We are talking about Asclepiades of Bithynia. He was born around 120 BCE in Cius, a city founded in the 7th century BCE by Milesian colonists, which in 202 BCE was renamed Prusias Thalassa (Prusias ...

The scene is in the Roman Province of Bithynia in modern day Turkey, and at that time there is a relatively new governor sent to take over. His name is Pliny the Younger. Pliny is one of the most ...