Stove, Kim Marcus Aurelius and his Legacy

Seeking Rome's Kingdom of Gold

The book examines how Marcus Aurelius has been reinterpreted over the centuries, while his philosophy, legend and legacy live on. Millions of visitors to the Capitoline Museums in Rome admire the large bronze equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (121180 AD), a follower of Stoicism and the last good emperor before Rome began its long decline. An ancient historian compared Marcus's succession by his son Commodus to the descent from a kingdom of gold to one of iron and rust. The statue's accidental preservation is due solely to the long-held belief that it depicts Constantine, the first Christian emperoran example of the mysterious ways in which Marcus's complex legacy would live on. The recent resurgence of interest in Stoicism has led to a renewed focus on Marcus Aurelius. While new editions of Marcus' work Meditations and new biographical accounts have appeared, there are still lesser-known sources that shed light on how Marcus has been remembered, from fascinating medieval legends to the 21st century. Each generation has reinterpreted Marcus Aurelius, his writings, his deeds and his personality, as he remains a role model and the example in Western history that most closely approximates the ideal of a ruler. This book collects and interprets for the first time a range of cultural receptions, enriching our understanding of this ever-fascinating figure.