Stoicism in a time of pandemic: how Marcus Aurelius can help

As the covid-19 pandemic proceeds, along with all of the known unknowns and unknown unknowns, and daily reports of cases and deaths, I came across this interesting article on Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, and his seminal work on stoicism, Meditations, and how his teachings could help help us cope in times of pandemic.

Here's a link to the article:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2...c-coronavirus-marcus-aurelius-the-meditations





Marcus Aurelius Æ Sestertius. Rome, AD 163. M AVREL ANTONINVS AVG ARMENIACVS P M, laureate bust right / TR POT XX [IMP III CO]S III, Providentia standing facing, head left, holding wand and sceptre, globe at feet; S-C across fields. RIC 923; C.805; BMCRE 1279. 29.79g, 33mm, 6h.

This sestertius was issued two years before the start of the Antonine Plague of 165 to 180 AD. Marcus Aurelius died in 180 AD, probably due to the plague.

 

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Thanks for sharing that article, @robinjojo . And very nice coin!

I have lots of family in Italy. Italy could sure use some restoration right now!


Marcus Aurelius, AD 161-180.
Roman orichalcum sestertius, 21.36 g, 29.5 mm, 12 h.
Rome, AD 173.
Obv: M ANTONINVS AVG TR P XXVII, head of Marcus Aurelius, laureate, right.
Rev: RESTITVTORI ITALIAE IMP VI COS III, Marcus Aurelius, in military dress, standing left, holding vertical spear in left hand and clasping right hands with Italia kneeling right before him, holding globe in left hand; SC in exergue.
Refs: RIC 1077; BMCRE 1449-1450; Cohen 538; RCV 4997; MIR 259.

 

Interesting article thanks...

Marcus Aurelius. AD 161-180. Æ Sestertius. Rome mint. Struck AD 171...(32mm, 24.68 g)
Obv. Laureate, draped head right, IMP M ANTONINVS AVG TRP XXV
Rev. Fides standing left, holding Victory and standard, FIDES EXERCITVVM COS III SC
RIC III 997

Marcus Aurelius denarius.Rome AD 161-162....18mm....2.55gr
Obverse....IMP M AVREL ANTONINVS AVG, bare head right
Reverse... PROV DEOR TR P XVI COS III, Providentia standing facing, head left, holding globe and cornucopiae.
RIC#50 RSC 519.

 

Similar sestertius with obverse bust - RIC1079

 

I am a member of the dailystoic.com - a site that sends out daily thoughts via email based on Stoicism - frequently referring to Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, and Seneca.

 

Too funny, @robinjojo . Fun coincidence. Been reading Meditations myself, for perhaps the severalth time, and read that article a couple days ago also.


RI MARCUS AURELIUS AR Den as Caesar TR POT VI COS II - Genius stg at altar hldg standard EX: FSR


Pocket-piece

RI Aurelius Marcus 161-180 AE Sestertius S-C


Real Sestertius vs. those Bogus Sestertii of the Empire

RR AR REAL Sestertius 211-208 BCE vs RE AE BOGUS Sestertius Marcus Aurelius 161-180 CE (don't be fooled by copies)

 

The Original Stoic, did not matter which Universe:

 

Fascinating...

 

LOL

 

i too am fond of them both...i have two shirts(showing one) pertaining to our Stoic vulcan on that particular episode(Mirror Mirror)..and Marcus truly earned the title philosopher king..my sestertius(minted by Commodus)isn't really much to lQQk at, but my denarius ain't too shabby..

 

AWESOME!

 

Then this one must have been issued around the time of the 165 AD plague:

Æ Sestertius, Rome, December 165 - Summer 166 AD
29.5 x 31 mm, 26.89 g
RIC III Marcus Aurelius 914; Banti 41; RCV 4964; MIR 18/130

Ob.: M AVREL ANTONINVS AVG ARMENIACVS P M Head of Marcus Aurelius, laureate, right
Reverse: CONGAVG III TR POT XX IMP III COS III S C Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus togate, seated on curule chairs on platform, each extending right hand; behind them lictor standing to left; in front of them, attendant standing to left, holding coin-scoop in right hand; below platform, citizen climbing steps to r.

​

 

He really looks very sick on the obverse of this coin which weighs 9.24 g.

 

Thanks for the article. I must tell you, however that the philosophy of Stoicism, at least as first proposed by Zeno, has always had a tendency to get people to accept everything that happens to them as part of some design or plan and that not accepting all that comes our way is simply kicking at the goad. Marcus seems to have recognized that not all that happens to us is our fate and that some things that seem irrevocable and unalterable fate are not so and can be changed. I don't believe most Stoics admitted that. Ultimately death claims us all and that ultimate fate will be our end (or beginning, depending on how you view things like one's demise) but there is much in our lives that is not fixed fate and is thus alterable. That is the sort of belief that makes resistance to evil, or calamity as in this virus situation, possible and potentially effective. Had Marcus as emperor not recognized that not all is fate, that some evils could be overcome we all might be speaking a dialect of Marcomanic German. Happiness, or in the case of Stoicism, contentment, will be achievable, only when we realize the distinction between what is unalterable fate (our impending demise) and what is alterable, how we will meet it when it arrives. The coin below is a sestertius of Marcus when he was a young lad and the Caesar of Antoninus Pius and a time when HILARITAS (on the reverse) was still possible. Sear 4802, ca.146 AD
.

 

Agreed. I like reading Aurelius' Meditations, and have read them several times (reading it again as we speak.) I agree that his personal slant brings a "better" interpretation than original Stoics.

But, ummm... isn't ENGLISH a German derivative language?

 

Yes, but the Anglisc version is infinitely more euphonic, as anyone who watches Masterpiece Theater will attest.

 

LOL, TRUE! However, I spent many years in Wales listening to their very guttural language... I became very fond of it. Tried learning it. Failed miserably. One of my co-worker's wife taught it in school, and both of my Kids learned it as it was compulsory in Welsh schools.

 

Same sestertius as OP
Thanks for the link !



Marcus Aurelius
Marcus Aurelius, sestertius
32 mm, 25.66 g, Rome
Obv. M AVREL ANTONINVS AVG ARMENIACVS P M, head of Marcus Aurelius, laureate, right
Rev. TR POT XX IMP III COS III S C, Providentia, draped, standing left, pointing wand in right hand at globe at her feet and holding vertical sceptre in left hand
RIC III 923.

 

A wonderful post. I have studied Stoicism and try to learn its principles. I have recently read "How To Think Like A Roman Emperor" by Donald Robertson. An exemplary book examining Stoicism through the life of Marcus Aurelius. Highly recommended. I do believe much unhappiness in life is caused by the desire to acquire.
But I don't go overboard. I exempt the acquisition of ancient coins from this philosophy.

 

Avarice in the acquisition numismatic coinage is no vice, but rather a benediction to posterity.