Meditations

Meditations is a series of personal writings by Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor from 161 to 180 AD. Written as a source for his own guidance and self-improvement, the twelve books of the Meditations offer his ideas on Stoic philosophy. Marcus Aurelius wrote the twelve books in Koine Greek as he planned military campaigns against several Germanic tribes across the Danube frontier and along the Danube River. It is likely that large portions of the books were written while Marcus Aurelius was stationed at Aquincum on campaign in Pannonia. Some of it was written while he was positioned at Carnuntum, with internal notes telling us that book 2 was written during his campaign against the Quadi on the river Granova.