Marcus Aurelius

Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher. Marcus Aurelius was born in Rome on April 26, 121 AD. He was raised in an environment dominated by Greek culture and received a corresponding education. He became the adopted heir to the throne, which he ascended in 161 AD after the death of his adoptive father, Antoninus Pius. As an emperor, he was primarily concerned with legislation, also taking care of the weaker social classes. His defensive policy was successful, marking the beginning of the end of the Pax Romana during his reign. He died during a campaign in March 180 AD. As a philosopher, he was a consistent representative of Stoicism, one of the renowned trio of the New Stoa (alongside Epictetus and Seneca). With his work "Meditations," written in Greek, he produced one of the most famous works of Stoic philosophy. This text, consisting of meditations in the form of comments on the views and aphorisms of past philosophers, personal reflections, and primarily introspective thoughts, is a testament to moral-practical contemplation and the school's views on God and nature.