It's unclear to me how much christianity mattered to the roman no, no, i think probably not very much at all. The whole issue with the am the christians in the arena in leo seems to be mared by the lite shortage of gladiators. You need to make sure wh every one's being properly entertained. An marcus is praisedin the ancient biography for pushing on games where a hundred lions are killed ad. But the reason e of gladiator is is often associated with withte the effects of the antonine plague and the uknow, gladiators have to be kind of coopted into into the roman army,. So that
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the man who, according to Machiavelli, was the last of the Five Good Emperors. Marcus Aurelius, 121 to 180 AD, has long been known as a model of the philosopher king, a Stoic who, while on military campaigns, compiled ideas on how best to live his life, and how best to rule. These ideas became known as his Meditations, and they have been treasured by many as an insight into the mind of a Roman emperor, and an example of how to avoid the corruption of power in turbulent times.
The image above shows part of a bronze equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius.
With
Simon Goldhill
Professor of Greek Literature and Culture and Fellow of King’s College, Cambridge
Angie Hobbs
Professor of the Public Understanding of Philosophy at the University of Sheffield
And
Catharine Edwards
Professor of Classics and Ancient History at Birkbeck, University of London
Producer: Simon Tillotson