The Roman general and emperor, a figure distinguished for his prudence and justice, and his violently succeeded heir to the throne. Plutarch writes about them individually rather than in parallel.

The biographer and philosopher Plutarch (circa 50-120 A.D.) was born in Chaeronea, Boeotia. Through his travels, he broadened his knowledge and came into contact with contemporary figures, mainly prominent Romans. He spent most of his life in his homeland and held public priestly office.

His surviving work is divided into the historical-biographical section and the so-called 'Moral' writings. In the 'Parallel Lives,' distinguished Greeks and Romans are compared, and the worlds each represents are indirectly contrasted. In the 'Morals,' issues of ethics, philosophy, science, politics, literary criticism, as well as topics from the realm of religion, nature, history, etc., are developed, sometimes in the form of dialogues and sometimes as treatises or dissertations.

Erudite and with a keen intellect, the author expressed traditional Greek values with simplicity and an optimistic outlook. His work delights and teaches, while also being a significant source of literature from classical and Hellenistic times.