Markus Wachter, CEO of the Carnuntum Archeological Park, shares fascinating insights into this ancient Roman site linked to Marcus Aurelius. Listeners discover Carnuntum's archaeological treasures and its pivotal role during the empire. Wachter discusses how Aurelius's Meditations, written amidst military challenges, reflect his struggles and acceptance of life's realities. He highlights the Danube River’s influence on trade and military strategy, and how Aurelius valued diplomacy over conflict. This dialogue brings the rich history and culture of Carnuntum to life.
22:47
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
insights INSIGHT
Carnuntum's Strategic Importance
Carnuntum was a major Roman town and military fortification at the empire's northern border with at least 50,000 inhabitants.
It was strategically located at the crossroads of critical trade routes and heavily fortified along the Danube river frontier.
insights INSIGHT
Luxury and Peace in Carnuntum
Life in Carnuntum was luxurious and pleasant for civilians, with grand thermal baths and heated villas.
The region was relatively peaceful for centuries, hosting a large Roman legion for protection.
insights INSIGHT
Roman Adaptation to Climate
Marcus Aurelius struggled with the cold and humid climate at Carnuntum.
Romans adapted to harsh weather using local resources like wood for heating and building houses.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
In this book, Donald J. Robertson combines the life of Marcus Aurelius with insights from modern psychology and the enduring wisdom of Stoic philosophy. The book follows Marcus Aurelius' journey from a young noble to his reign as emperor of Rome, highlighting how he used philosophical doctrines and therapeutic practices to build emotional resilience and endure adversity. Robertson guides readers on how to apply these same methods to their own lives, making Stoicism accessible and relevant in a modern context.
Meditations
Marcus Aurelius
Meditations is a series of private writings composed by Marcus Aurelius, one of Rome's greatest emperors, as he struggled to understand himself and make sense of the universe. Written between 170 and 180 CE while on military campaigns, this work combines Stoic philosophy with personal observations on leadership, duty, mortality, and human nature. Through twelve books of intimate thoughts never intended for publication, Marcus Aurelius explores themes of self-improvement, resilience in the face of adversity, and living virtuously while accepting what cannot be changed.
This podcast episode contains the audio recording from a conversation about Marcus Aurelius, which I had with Markus Wachter, the CEO of the Carnuntum Archeological Park, at the Museum Carnuntinum, in 2019. I was visiting Austria for around a week, doing research for my books on Marcus Aurelius. The audio was recorded live in the main hall of the reconstructed Roman villa in the archeological park, hence the acoustics.
Marcus stationed himself at the Roman legionary fortress of Carnuntum, for part of the Marcomannic Wars. He included the note “At Carnuntum” near the start of the Meditations, proving that he must have written at least part of the manuscript there.
Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Thanks to Landessammlungen Niederösterreich, Archäologischer Park Carnuntum for permission to film, and to Adam Piercey for filming and editing.
Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life Podcast 
