He had absolute power. He spent his life trying not to abuse it.
This Marcus Aurelius magnet features a cinematic portrait of Rome's philosopher-emperor, part of the Rome's Greatest Emperors collection. A distinctive piece for the home, office, or classroom - and an affordable gift for history enthusiasts, philosophy lovers, and students of leadership. Three sizes, matte finish, built to last.
ABOUT MARCUS AURELIUS (121 – 180 AD)
Marcus Aurelius never wanted to be emperor. He had spent his youth absorbed in philosophy, studying under the finest Stoic teachers Rome could offer, and by all accounts would have been content to spend his life reading and writing. Instead he inherited the most powerful office in the world and held it for nearly two decades - all while fighting wars he didn't start, managing crises he didn't create, and writing private notes to himself about how to be a better human being.
Those notes survived. Published as the Meditations, they were never intended for an audience - they were a personal journal, a daily exercise in self-examination written on campaign in the cold of the northern frontier. That they became one of the most widely read works of philosophy in history would almost certainly have embarrassed him.
His reign was not peaceful. The Antonine Plague killed millions across the empire during his rule, and he spent much of his time commanding Roman legions against Germanic tribes along the Danube. He handled both with the same methodical, unsentimental discipline he brought to everything. He did what needed to be done and tried not to complain about it.
He died in 180 AD on campaign, the last of the Five Good Emperors. The empire he left behind was still standing. The philosophy he practiced in private has outlasted everything else.
PRODUCT FEATURES
- Available in three sizes: 3×3, 4×4, and 6×6 inches
- Matte finish for a sophisticated, glare-free surface
- Laminated surface for durability and color vibrancy
- White vinyl with strong magnetic backing
- Indoor use recommended