On this day in ancient history - March 7:
Marcus Aurelius
Public DomainThe last of the 5 good emperors, Marcus Aurelius is known as a Stoic philosopher. In addition to writing his meditations, he conducted wars, particularly against the Parthian Empire and the Marcomanni. It was during his reign that a great plague broke out, named the Antonine Plague for Marcus Aurelius' family. It is also called the Plague of Galen because Galen was present and wrote about it. Even though Galen wrote about the plague, we don't know for certain the identity of the pandemic disease. However, smallpox is the leading contender. The Historia Augusta says that when he was dying Marcus Aurelius sent his friends away for fear that they might catch his disease.
On this day in ancient Roman history, in A.D. 161, Emperor Antoninus Pius (86 - March 7, 161) died. Marcus Aurelius (121 - 180) and Lucius Verus (130 - 169) succeeded him.
Marcus Aurelius
Public Domain
Comments
Thanks Ms. Gill. Always a pleasure to visit your site.
Any truth to the assertions by Edward Charles Witke and others that Marcus Aurelius used a soporific, like opium? Might make being a stoic easier.
The Section on Rulers: I’ve read somebody’s got a stone of anoiting that they think is used and some other group got the original. It’s a interesting thought. Who’s the real ruler?
William – Seems so, perhaps.
See:
The Opium Addiction of Marcus Aurelius
Thomas W. Africa
Journal of the History of Ideas, Vol. 22, No. 1 (Jan. – Mar., 1961), pp. 97-102
Marcus Aurelius and Mandragora
Edward Charles Witke
Classical Philology, Vol. 60, No. 1 (Jan., 1965), pp. 23-24
Galen, His Books, and the Horrea Piperataria at Rome
George W. Houston
Memoirs of the American Academy in Rome, Vol. 48, (2003), pp. 45-51