
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus was the Roman emperor from 161 until his death in 180. He was the last of the "Five Good Emperors", and is also considered one of the most important Stoic philosophers. His Meditations, written in Greek while on campaign between 170 and 180, is still revered as a literary monument to a government of service and duty. It serves as an example of how Aurelius approached the Platonic ideal of a philosopher-king and how he symbolized much of what was best about Roman civilization.