Meditations: With Selected Correspondence (Oxford World’s Classics)

551 Pages·2011·1.27 MB·English

by  Marcus Aurelius

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OXFORD WORLD’S CLASSICS
MARCUS AURELIUS
Meditations
Translated by
ROBIN HARD
With an Introduction and Notes by
CHRISTOPHER GILL
OXFORD WORLD’S CLASSICS
MEDITATIONS
MARCUS AURELIUS (AD 121–80) was born (as Marcus Annius Verus) into a
distinguished Roman family; after his father died in his childhood, he was
adopted first by his grandfather and then by his uncle, Aurelius Antoninus, who
became emperor in 138. Marcus married Antoninus’ daughter, Faustina, in 145
and they had several children, including Commodus, his first and only surviving
son, who succeeded Marcus as emperor. On the death of Antoninus in 161,
Marcus became emperor, along with Lucius Verus, who had also been adopted
by Antoninus. They ruled together until Lucius’ death from illness in 169.
Marcus’ period as emperor was dominated by confronting serious external
threats to the boundaries and stability of the empire, especially from the
Parthians in the east and the Germans in the north. Much of the period 168–80
was spent by Marcus in the Danube region, campaigning against the Germans,
mostly successfully. In 175 there was a short and unsuccessful rebellion against
him by Avidius Cassius. He died from illness in 180.
Marcus had the normal Roman aristocratic education in oratory and literature;
his teachers included Fronto, and an extensive correspondence between them
survives. But he was attracted from an early age to philosophy; the Stoic
teachings of Epictetus were a special influence. The Meditations, probably
written in his later years, served as a philosophical notebook in which he set
down short reflections, based on Stoic ethics, summarizing the principles on
which he based his life.
ROBIN HARD has translated Apollodorus’ Library of Greek Mythology for Oxford
World’s Classics, and is the author of the Routledge Handbook of Greek
Mythology.
CHRISTOPHER GILL is Professor of Ancient Thought at the University of Exeter.
He has written extensively on ancient philosophy, especially on Hellenistic and
Roman ethics and psychology.
CONTENTS
Introduction
Note on the Text
Select Bibliography
A Chronology of Marcus Aurelius
MEDITATIONS
BOOK 1
BOOK 2
BOOK 3
BOOK 4
BOOK 5
BOOK 6
BOOK 7
BOOK 8
BOOK 9
BOOK 10
BOOK 11
BOOK 12
Appendix: A Selection from the Correspondence between Marcus Cornelius
Fronto and Marcus Aurelius
Explanatory Notes
List of Letters Translated
Index of Themes
INTRODUCTION
THE Meditations of Marcus Aurelius is a work without parallel among writings
surviving from Classical antiquity—and an exceptional work in any age and
culture. It is the philosophical diary of a Roman emperor, probably written
while he was campaigning in Germany near the end of his life. In short, intense,
and often powerful reflections, Marcus tries to articulate his core beliefs and
values. Drawing mainly on Stoic philosophy, but formulated in his own way,
Marcus finds the resources to help him meet challenges that he is acutely
conscious of but which are also universal: facing one’s own approaching death,
making sense of one’s social role and projects, looking for moral significance in
the natural world.
Marcus’ Life and Career
Marcus (AD 121–80) was born in Rome as Marcus Annius Verus into a family of
Spanish origin which had already achieved political distinction. His father died
while Marcus was a child, and he was brought up by his grandfather, a relative
of the emperor Hadrian. Hadrian admired the young Marcus, calling him
Verissimus (‘most truthful’). When Hadrian chose Antoninus Pius as his heir and
successor, he made Antoninus adopt as his sons Marcus and another young man,
Lucius Verus. Marcus was educated by a number of famous teachers, including
the orator Fronto; much of their correspondence survives, and a selection is
included in this volume. From the age of 12, Marcus showed a strong interest in
philosophy; after an early introduction to Stoicism, Junius Rusticus guided him
to Epictetus’ Discourses, which formed an important influence on the
Meditations (1.7).1 Marcus married Antoninus’ daughter, Faustina, his first
cousin, in 145, and seemed to have had a largely happy marriage, with several
children. In Book 1 of the Meditations (the only book which has a single theme
and overall structure), Marcus reviews the ethical and intellectual influence of
his family and friends, giving special attention to his adoptive father and
predecessor as emperor, Antoninus Pius (1.16).
Marcus’ period as emperor (161–80) was marked by good relations between
emperor and senate and was generally seen as a period of good administration.
He ruled as co-emperor with Lucius Verus until Lucius’ death from illness in