Marcus Aurelius Antoninus is regarded as one of the greatest emperors in Roman history ; he is numbered among the " Five Good Emperors " Marcus ruled the vast Roman empire form 161 - 180 AD . A highly intelligent man , he stands as one of the greatest intellectual rulers in Western Civilisation . Although a great military leader , Marcus was impressed with a firm desire for peace that manifested itself in his philosophical writings .
Marcus was born in Rome on April 26th , 121 and raised in a wealthy and politically prominent family . He was noticed by the Emperor Hadrian while he was still a child and was consequently given special educational privileges . Marcus was enrolled in the Equestrians at the age of six and the next year he was given special permission to attend the priestly college of the Salii in Rome . It was here that Marcus was taught by the greatest thinkers of the day , representing a variety of cultures .
Marcus continued to receive help from emperors , but later assistance would come in the form of his growth in political power. He was adopted by Antoninus Pius , the chosen successor of the throne and was given political positions under him . To further strengthen Marcus's appointment as the successor of Pius , Marcus married his daughter , Annia Glaria Faustina .
Marcus was crowned emperor on March 7 , 161 and so began a reign characterised by war , disaster and intellectual thought . There were three great external conflicts which mark his reign , and Marcus dealt with them all effectively . He won a victory for the empire in 163 against the Parthians when they had invaded Armenia , he coped with a great plague that swept the whole empire , and he successfully pushed Barbarians of Roman soil in the Marcommannic Wars .
Marcus found the strength to deal with the many problems he faced through Stoic Philosophy . These beliefs were expressed in his famous 'Meditations ' , where he exhibited the tensions he felt between his position as emperor and his prevailing feeling of inadequacy . The 12 books that make up the set are the most introspective of any ancient philosophical writing - so much so , that they may be called a dairy . Marcus was consoled in his writings by the fact that life is short and his belief that the spirit , which was the only valuable thing about a person , is infused into the universe at death .
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- Girodet
- " Every day we should hear at least one good song , read one good poem , see one exquisite picture , and , if possible , speak a few sensible words . " Johann Wolfgang von Goethe "
Monday, 21 November 2011
' Marcus Aurelius ' 121 - 180 AD . ( Emperor of Rome 161 - 180 AD ) Bronze
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus is regarded as one of the greatest emperors in Roman history ; he is numbered among the " Five Good Emperors " Marcus ruled the vast Roman empire form 161 - 180 AD . A highly intelligent man , he stands as one of the greatest intellectual rulers in Western Civilisation . Although a great military leader , Marcus was impressed with a firm desire for peace that manifested itself in his philosophical writings .
Marcus was born in Rome on April 26th , 121 and raised in a wealthy and politically prominent family . He was noticed by the Emperor Hadrian while he was still a child and was consequently given special educational privileges . Marcus was enrolled in the Equestrians at the age of six and the next year he was given special permission to attend the priestly college of the Salii in Rome . It was here that Marcus was taught by the greatest thinkers of the day , representing a variety of cultures .
Marcus continued to receive help from emperors , but later assistance would come in the form of his growth in political power. He was adopted by Antoninus Pius , the chosen successor of the throne and was given political positions under him . To further strengthen Marcus's appointment as the successor of Pius , Marcus married his daughter , Annia Glaria Faustina .
Marcus was crowned emperor on March 7 , 161 and so began a reign characterised by war , disaster and intellectual thought . There were three great external conflicts which mark his reign , and Marcus dealt with them all effectively . He won a victory for the empire in 163 against the Parthians when they had invaded Armenia , he coped with a great plague that swept the whole empire , and he successfully pushed Barbarians of Roman soil in the Marcommannic Wars .
Marcus found the strength to deal with the many problems he faced through Stoic Philosophy . These beliefs were expressed in his famous 'Meditations ' , where he exhibited the tensions he felt between his position as emperor and his prevailing feeling of inadequacy . The 12 books that make up the set are the most introspective of any ancient philosophical writing - so much so , that they may be called a dairy . Marcus was consoled in his writings by the fact that life is short and his belief that the spirit , which was the only valuable thing about a person , is infused into the universe at death .
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