Companion to Marcus Aurelius

582 Pages·2012·3.11 MB·English

BLACKWELL COMPANIONS TO THE ANCIENT WORLD
BLACKWELL
COMPANIONS
TO THE
ANCIENT
WORLD
t h e e d i tor A C O M PA N IO N TO A COMPANION TO
A C O M P A N I O N T O
Marcel van Ackeren is Associated Professor/ MARCUS AURELIUS MARCUS
Senior Research Fellow in the Philosophy
Department at the University of Cologne. He marcus
AURELIUS
is the author of Das Wissen vom Guten. Bedeutung
Contributors to this volume:
und Kontinuität des Tugendwissens in den Dialogen
M
Platons (2003), Heraklit (2005), Understanding EDITED BY
Marcel van Ackeren, Martin Beckmann, Anthony R. Birley,
Ancient Philosophy (edited with Jörn Müller, MARCEL VAN ACKEREN
Lukas de Blois, Susanne Börner, Dietrich Boschung, Julia Bruch, E aurelius
2006), The Political Identity of the West. Platonism
A
in the Dialogue of Cultures (edited with Orrin F. Matteo Ceporina, Werner Eck, Mark J. Edwards, Michael Erler, D A
Considered the last of the “Five Good Emperors,”
Summerell, 2006), Die Philosophie Marc Aurels, 2 Thomas Fischer, Pascale Fleury, Angelo Giavatto, Christopher Gill, IR
Marcus Aurelius ruled the Roman Empire
vols. (2011), and Meditations and Representations. Jean-Baptiste Gourinat, Olivier Hekster, Katrin Herrmann, T C
from ad 161 until his death in 180 – yet his
Marcus Aurelius in Interdisciplinary Light (edited Leofranc Holford-Strevens, Péter Kovács, Jill Kraye, Anthony A. Long, EC O influence on philosophy continues to resonate
with Jan Opsomer, 2012). Irmgard Männlein-Robert, Gretchen Reydams-Schils, Amy Richlin, D EDITED BY Marcel van ackeren in the modern age through his Meditations. A
David Sedley, John Sellars, Peter Stewart U M Companion to Marcus Aurelius presents the first
B
YS P comprehensive collection of essays to explore
all essential facets relating to contemporary

V A Marcus Aurelius studies. Featuring contributions
ALSO AVAIL ABLE IN THIS SERIES:
A
A N from top international scholars in relevant
N fields, initial readings provide an overview of
U
I source material by addressing such topics as

A O manuscript transmission, historical written
R
C sources, archaeological evidence, artifacts, and
N
KE coins. Readings continue with state-of-the-art
E discussions of various aspects of Marcus Aurelius
L
R T – his personal biography; political, cultural, and
I intellectual background; and aspects of his role
E O
NU as emperor, reformer of administration, military
leader, and lawgiver. His Meditations are analyzed
S in detail, including the form of the book, his
way of writing, and the various aspects of his
philosophy. The final series of readings
addresses evolving aspects of his reception.
A Companion to Marcus Aurelius offers important
new insights on a figure of late antiquity whose
unique voice has withstood the centuries to
influence contemporary life.
Jacket image: Marcus Aurelius, fragment of a bronze
portrait, Roman, after 170 CE. Musée du Louvre, Paris,
photo by Marie-Lan Nguyen / Wikimedia Commons.
Jacket design by Workhaus

A COMPANION TO MARCUS AURELIUS
BLACKWELL COMPANIONS TO THE ANCIENT WORLD
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literature,andthemostimportantthemesinancientculture.Eachvolumecomprisesbetweentwenty-five
and forty concise essays written by individual scholars within theirarea of specialization. The essays are
writteninaclear,provocative,andlivelymanner,designedforaninternationalaudienceofscholars,students,
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A COMPANION
TO MARCUS
AURELIUS
Edited by
Marcel van Ackeren
Thiseditionfirstpublished2012
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AcompaniontoMarcusAurelius/editedbyMarcelvanAckeren.
p.cm.– (Blackwellcompanionstotheancientworld)
Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.
ISBN978-1-4051-9285-9(hardcover:alk.paper) 1. MarcusAurelius,EmperorofRome,121-180.
2. Rome–History–MarcusAurelius,161-180. 3. Emperors–Rome–Biography. I. Ackeren,Marcelvan.
DG297.C662012
9370.07092–dc23
2011040483
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Setin11/13.5ptGalliardbyThomsonDigital,India
1 2012
Contents
List of Figures ix
Notes on Contributors xi
Preface xvii
List of Abbreviations xix
The Study of Marcus Aurelius: Introduction 1
Marcel van Ackeren
PART I The Main Sources 11
1 Cassius Dio and the Historia Augusta 13
Anthony R. Birley
2 ArchaeologicalEvidenceoftheMarcomannicWars
of Marcus Aurelius (AD 166–80) 29
Thomas Fischer
3 The Meditations 45
Matteo Ceporina
4 Marcus Aurelius’ Letters 62
Pascale Fleury
5 Epigraphic Records 77
Pe´ter Kova´cs
PART II Biography and Background 93
6 The Political State of the Roman Empire 95
Werner Eck
7 Cultural and Intellectual Background and
Development 110
Leofranc Holford-Strevens
vi Contents
8 Early Life: Family, Youth, and Education 139
Anthony R. Birley
9 Marcus’ Life as Emperor 155
Anthony R. Birley
10 The Relation of Politics and Philosophy under
Marcus Aurelius 171
Lukas de Blois
PART III Marcus the Emperor 183
11 Administration and Jurisdiction in Rome and
in the Provinces 185
Werner Eck
12 Religion in the Age of Marcus Aurelius 200
Mark J. Edwards
13 The Wars and Revolts 217
Anthony R. Birley
14 The Roman Empire after His Death 234
Olivier Hekster
PART IV Material Forms of Self-Representation 249
15 The Column of Marcus Aurelius 251
Martin Beckmann
16 The Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius 264
Peter Stewart
17 Coins 278
Susanne Bo¨rner
18 The Portraits: A Short Introduction 294
Dietrich Boschung
19 The Reliefs: Representation of Marcus Aurelius’
Deeds 305
Dietrich Boschung
PART V Marcus the Philosopher 315
20 The Form and Structure of the Meditations 317
Jean-Baptiste Gourinat
Contents vii
21 The Style of the Meditations 333
Angelo Giavatto
22 Aspects of Orality in (the Text of) the Meditations 346
Michael Erler
23 The Meditations as a (Philosophical)
Autobiography 362
Irmgard Ma€nnlein-Robert
24 Marcus and Previous Stoic Literature 382
Christopher Gill
25 Marcus Aurelius on Physics 396
David Sedley
26 Logic and the Meditations 408
Angelo Giavatto
27 Ethics 420
Jean-Baptiste Gourinat
28 Social Ethics and Politics 437
Gretchen Reydams-Schils
29 The Meditations and the Ancient Art of Living 453
John Sellars
30 The Self in the Meditations 465
Anthony A. Long
PART VI Reception 481
31 The Reception of the Philosopher-King
in Antiquity and the Medieval Age 483
Julia Bruch and Katrin Herrmann
32 The Sanctification of Marcus Aurelius 497
Amy Richlin
33 MarcusAureliusandNeostoicisminEarlyModern
Philosophy 515
Jill Kraye
34 Marcus Aurelius in Contemporary Philosophy 532
John Sellars
Index 545