--- product_id: 53605496 title: "Marcus Aurelius (Loeb Classical Library 58)" price: "AED 174" currency: AED in_stock: true reviews_count: 11 url: https://www.desertcart.ae/products/53605496-marcus-aurelius-loeb-classical-library-58 store_origin: AE region: United Arab Emirates --- # Marcus Aurelius (Loeb Classical Library 58) **Price:** AED 174 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Marcus Aurelius (Loeb Classical Library 58) - **How much does it cost?** AED 174 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.ae](https://www.desertcart.ae/products/53605496-marcus-aurelius-loeb-classical-library-58) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Stoic musings of a philosopher-emperor at war. Marcus Aurelius (AD 121–180), Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher, born at Rome, received training under his guardian and uncle emperor Antoninus Pius (reigned 138–161), who adopted him. He was converted to Stoicism and henceforward studied and practiced philosophy and law. A gentle man, he lived in agreement and collaboration with Antoninus Pius. He married Pius’ daughter and succeeded him as emperor in March 161, sharing some of the burdens with Lucius Verus. Marcus’ reign soon saw fearful national disasters from flood, earthquakes, epidemics, threatened revolt (in Britain), a Parthian war, and pressure of barbarians north of the Alps. From 169 onwards he had to struggle hard against the German Quadi, Marcomani, Vandals, and others until success came in 174. In 175 (when Faustina died) he pacified affairs in Asia after a revolt by Avidius. War with Germans was renewed during which he caught some disease and died by the Danube in March 180. The famous Meditations of Marcus Aurelius (not his title; he simply calls them “The matters addressed to himself”) are reflections written in periods of solitude during the emperor’s military campaigns. Originally intended for his private guidance and self-admonition, the Meditations have endured as a potent expression of Stoic belief. It is a central text for students of Stoicism as well as a unique personal guide to the moral life. Review: Fascinating insight into an entirely different way of seeing the world - Marcus Aurelius, the philosopher-emperor, marks the high point of pagan thought in the late Roman empire. This Loeb edition collects all of his (then) known works, principally in Greek but also in Latin, and provides an edition of the text with footnotes, facing (as the Loeb always does) a modernish English translation. Like much of Loeb, this volume is now quite elderly, though, with a static corpus and a relatively uncontroversial text, it does not particularly show its age except in the grammar of the English text. The translation was entirely new for this edition. However, it is written in archaising English with 'thee' and 'thou' to distinguish Greek and Latin second person singular from plural. Back at the end of the 19th century, this was still relatively common practice, although, except in dialects and poetry, these words had fallen out of common use a couple of hundred years before. To 21st century readers, it initially comes across as rather distant. However, after a few pages of reading, this fades from the mind. It's probably worth admitting that one would not read Marcus Aurelius now as self-help—though, in effect, that is what this book principally is, giving screeds of wise advice. However, as a window into the mind of a pagan stoic, this is incomparable. What is fascinating to modern readers is the way Marcus Aurelius weaves what would now be considered to be secular ethics in with ideas of what the gods require, and what they are likely to do. On the one hand this is the writings of a sensible man who expects relatively little from the gods, and uses them in many senses as metaphysical hypotheticals—"if the gods… either they will… or they will…" On the other, he is also writing as an emperor who accepts the notion that his predecessors are divine, and, one would imagine, expects to be accorded the same divinity later. What it reveals to us is therefore an extraordinary insight into a religious viewpoint which is utterly foreign to the Abrahamic tradition: an impersonal faith, where the gods can be invoked as proxies in discussions of ethics, but where action is thoroughly in the human sphere. Review: Five Stars - very good quality ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | 126,375 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) 965 in Essays, Journals & Letters 15,153 in Biographies & Memoirs (Books) | | Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 198 Reviews | ## Images ![Marcus Aurelius (Loeb Classical Library 58) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51Ih2BnxCIL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Fascinating insight into an entirely different way of seeing the world *by M***R on 17 December 2015* Marcus Aurelius, the philosopher-emperor, marks the high point of pagan thought in the late Roman empire. This Loeb edition collects all of his (then) known works, principally in Greek but also in Latin, and provides an edition of the text with footnotes, facing (as the Loeb always does) a modernish English translation. Like much of Loeb, this volume is now quite elderly, though, with a static corpus and a relatively uncontroversial text, it does not particularly show its age except in the grammar of the English text. The translation was entirely new for this edition. However, it is written in archaising English with 'thee' and 'thou' to distinguish Greek and Latin second person singular from plural. Back at the end of the 19th century, this was still relatively common practice, although, except in dialects and poetry, these words had fallen out of common use a couple of hundred years before. To 21st century readers, it initially comes across as rather distant. However, after a few pages of reading, this fades from the mind. It's probably worth admitting that one would not read Marcus Aurelius now as self-help—though, in effect, that is what this book principally is, giving screeds of wise advice. However, as a window into the mind of a pagan stoic, this is incomparable. What is fascinating to modern readers is the way Marcus Aurelius weaves what would now be considered to be secular ethics in with ideas of what the gods require, and what they are likely to do. On the one hand this is the writings of a sensible man who expects relatively little from the gods, and uses them in many senses as metaphysical hypotheticals—"if the gods… either they will… or they will…" On the other, he is also writing as an emperor who accepts the notion that his predecessors are divine, and, one would imagine, expects to be accorded the same divinity later. What it reveals to us is therefore an extraordinary insight into a religious viewpoint which is utterly foreign to the Abrahamic tradition: an impersonal faith, where the gods can be invoked as proxies in discussions of ethics, but where action is thoroughly in the human sphere. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Five Stars *by L***I on 26 March 2016* very good quality ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A book by a chum of mine *by C***N on 18 October 2003* Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Caesar; a name that could cause traffic jams. However, we are talking about a great man who recorded for posterity his inner most thoughts and his weaknesses. His legacy is his self doubt, self analysis and his belief in the enduring good of Mankind. Humble and realistic, this man was Emperor of Rome, take note Bush and Blair. I salute him. ## Frequently Bought Together - Marcus Aurelius (Loeb Classical Library) - Discourses, Books 1–2 (Loeb Classical Library) - Epictetus: Discourses, Books 3-4. The Encheiridion. (Loeb Classical Library No. 218) --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.ae/products/53605496-marcus-aurelius-loeb-classical-library-58](https://www.desertcart.ae/products/53605496-marcus-aurelius-loeb-classical-library-58) --- *Product available on Desertcart United Arab Emirates* *Store origin: AE* *Last updated: 2026-08-21*