Marcus Aurelius
121 – 180 Roman philosopher, emperor
The philosopher-emperor whose private Meditations became a Stoic classic.
- Religion
- Stoicism blended with Roman state religion; his Meditations address a rational cosmos.
- Affiliations
- Roman emperor. No secret society.
Marcus Aurelius ruled Rome at its height while writing private notes on duty, mortality, and self-mastery. Those notes, the Meditations, are among the most enduring works of Stoic philosophy. He is remembered as the model of the wise ruler.
Connections
- influenced Epictetus — The emperor cited Epictetus as a chief influence on his Meditations.
In the timeline
- 175 Marcus Aurelius writes the Meditations central figure