Work · Hellenistic, Roman & Late Antique
Meditations
An emperor's private Stoic notes, written in the field camp.
Introduction
Twelve books of notes in Greek, written over the last decade of Marcus Aurelius’ life; the transmitted title means “To Himself”. Book I lists what he owes to family, teachers and friends; notes at the end of Books I and II mention “among the Quadi” and Carnuntum, places on the Danube frontier. The rest consists of short, repeated reminders, often in the second person, on death, the brevity of fame, the rational order of nature and duties towards others. The text was little known until the first printed edition by Wilhelm Xylander in 1559, based on a manuscript now lost.
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Connections
Builds on
- Fragmentsc. 500 BCE · Heraclitus
- Enchiridion (Handbook)c. 125 · Epictetus
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