Marcus Aurelius
Roman emperor and philosopher whose Meditations remain a key source on Stoic thought Show bio
Bio
Marcus Aurelius lost his father at three and grew up in his grandfather's care. He took up a philosopher's rough cloak as a boy, urged on by his painting teacher. Marcus slept on the ground until his mother persuaded him to use a bed.
He reportedly met his adoption into the emperor's family with sadness and left home reluctantly. Marcus ruled from 161 through many wars and a plague that killed millions.
He thanked his grandfather and teachers in his philosophical writings, the Meditations. Marcus wrote that he learned modesty and manliness from memories of the father he barely knew.