Mark Aurelius is one of the most fascinating figures of Antiquity. A Roman emperor and philosopher, he was born in 121 AD in Rome and received a broad Greek education. His famous work, "Meditations", has since exerted significant influence up to the present day. 

Written during his military campaigns, its aim was to inspire him in the task of governing a vast empire during a time of crisis, marking the end of the Pax Romana and the beginning of Rome's decline. Influenced by Stoicism, one of the main philosophical traditions of Hellenistic and Roman times, his reflections draw elements from the entire ancient philosophical tradition, from Heraclitus and Socrates to Aristotle and Epicurus.

The thought of Marcus Aurelius is permeated by conflicting elements: the anxiety of death and the request for a life in accordance with human nature; the conflict between reason, emotions, and impulses; the division between the Roman leader and the citizen of the world. Overall, however, a dialectical, realistic tendency prevails, which harmoniously combines the contradictions with the spirit of his turbulent era.