Lot Essay
Marcus Aurelius, who lived from 121 to 180 AD, was born M. Annius Verus. While still young, he won the favour of the Emperor Hadrian, who gave him the punning but apposite nickname of 'Verissimus' (most true). When Hadrian adopted Antoninus Pius as his successor in 138 AD, he in turn adopted Marcus Aurelius. In 145 AD the latter married Faustina, who was Antoninus' daughter, as well as being his own cousin. He became Emperor in 161 AD, and shared the throne with Lucius Verus until the latter's death in 169 AD. He was succeeded by his son, Commodus.
His reign was dominated by warfare against invaders on all the important frontiers of the Empire, but it is for his inner life that he is best remembered. His twelve books of Meditations, which were written in Greek during the last decade of his life, are a remarkably personal and immediate record of his hopes and fears, in which a Stoic pessimism predominates.
His reign was dominated by warfare against invaders on all the important frontiers of the Empire, but it is for his inner life that he is best remembered. His twelve books of Meditations, which were written in Greek during the last decade of his life, are a remarkably personal and immediate record of his hopes and fears, in which a Stoic pessimism predominates.