Marcus Aurelius as a youth

myminifactory

This is an exquisite antique alabaster sculpture of a youthful Marcus Aurelius, renowned as the Philosopher, who ruled the Roman Empire from 161 to 180 with his adoptive brother Lucius Verus until Lucius' untimely demise in 169. He brought the dynasty of emperors traditionally known as the Five Good Emperors to a close. His reign also marked the end of the Pax Romana, a period of relative peace and stability that had characterized the Empire for centuries. Marcus Aurelius' personal philosophical writings, commonly referred to as Meditations, remain a cornerstone of modern understanding of ancient Stoic philosophy. These profound works have been widely admired by fellow writers, philosophers, monarchs, poets, and politicians across the centuries since his passing.