Antoninus was Marcus Aurelius’s uncle and adoptive father. A Roman senator, Antoninus was named successor of the Emperor Hadrian and, in turn, he named Marcus his own successor. He reigned from 138–161 C.E. Marcus credits Antoninus for being his model for living according to philosophy: he describes his predecessor as steadfast, modest, hardworking, and pious toward the gods.
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Antoninus Pius Character Timeline in Meditations
The timeline below shows where the character Antoninus Pius appears in Meditations. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Book 1: Debts and Lessons
...to take a measured attitude toward material comforts, and not to be self-congratulatory. Like Socrates, Antoninus Pius could both enjoy and abstain from things moderately. His self-control was “the mark of...
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Book 6
30. Marcus tells himself to “be the person philosophy has tried to make you.” Antoninus should be his model: he was steady, reverent, modest, and methodical in everything. He was...
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