An Emperor of Rome Contributes to Humanities

Plato said, "philosophers must become kings or kings must become philosophers before the world will have peace." The Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus was perhaps the only true philosopher-king in the history of the world. Aurelius was born in Rome on April 26, 121 A.D. and raised in a wealthy and politically prominent family. The Emperor Hadrian noticed him while he was still a child and was consequently given special educational privileges. Aurelius was enrolled in the Equestrians at the age of six and the next year he was given special permission to attend the priestly college of the Salii in Rome. It was here that Aurelius was taught by the greatest thinkers of the day, representing a variety of cultures.

Marcus Aurelius (A.D. 121-180) was the kind of philosopher who molded his thinking in the arena of active public service. This may have been due to the fact that in 129 A.D. the Emperor Hadrian appointed Aurelius to priesthood. On March 7, 161 A.D. Aurelius was c...