Stoic Roman emperor subject of new exhibition

Oft-quoted Marcus Aurelius sees new online popularity

How do you keep calm in times of crisis? What do people need to be happy? Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius is often quoted online for answers. This once-powerful man would have preferred to be a philosopher.

"Look within. Within is the fountain of good, and it will ever bubble up, if thou wilt ever dig."

As reported by DW, wise statements like this can be found in the 'Meditations' of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius (121-180 CE). He had never intended these reflections for publication, having written them purely for himself, but they have become some of the most widely read writings after the Bible and the Quran. A bestseller, so to speak, which has been translated into numerous languages worldwide.

Known today as a philosopher-king, Marcus Aurelius ruled at a time marked by crises and catastrophes. He ascended to the throne in 161 CE, just a few years before the Marcomannic Wars (166-180 CE) – the Marcomanni were Germanic tribes – which would shake the Roman Empire to its foundations.

Good governance

Archaeologist Marcus Reuter – director of the Rheinisches Landesmuseum – and historian Viola Skiba – director of the Stadtmuseum Simeonstift in Trier, Germany – have co-curated a joint exhibition, in each of their institutions, on Marcus Aurelius, set to run from June 15 to November 23, 2025. Skiba said the themes of the exhibition are more current than they had anticipated.

The question of what good leadership looks like has taken on a new urgency, especially in these crisis-ridden and polarised times. At the same time, the question is as old as human history itself, and was clearly a focus in the ancient world.

What, according to Marcus Aurelius, distinguishes good governance? "Basically, it is guided by the cardinal virtues of antiquity," said Skiba. Those desirable virtues include wisdom, justice, prudence and moderation.

Reuter added that Marcus Aurelius would most likely have considered Donald Trump "not a good leader, and certainly not a role model."

But of course, Marcus Aurelius was a product of his time, who grew up within the social structures of antiquity, including acceptance of slavery, unequal rights and brutal wars. But "... he always put the interests of the state first," added Reuter.

The construction of the Porta Nigra in Trier — today the city's famous landmark - can also be traced back to Marcus Aurelius. It was part of the city wall that Aurelius had built to protect its citizens.

Relevance

Aphorisms like the above can seem like mockery coming from a wealthy emperor, but they were meant sincerely. Indeed, Marcus Aurelius cultivated a rather modest lifestyle and even had imperial household items – his private assets – auctioned off when the state was in financial crisis.

"As far as I know, no Roman emperor before or after him did that," said Reuter.

Marcus Aurelius also apparently spent a lot of time pondering the meaning of life, which is presumably the reason so many young people nowadays are interested in him and his writings. In Reuter's estimation, "his 'Meditations' are a little treasure trove containing something to address nearly every situation in life."

Reuter pointed out that Marcus Aurelius' writings don't lend themselves to being read from front to back, but are well-suited to dipping into to find inspiration. They are, after all, the private musings of someone who spent time thinking about what was truly important in life. So it's small wonder that quotes by the Roman emperor can be found all over social media.

The exhibition in Trier builds on this contemporary interest in Marcus Aurelius and the topics that occupied him. It's designed to inspire visitors from all over the world to reflect on themselves, society and what a long-ago Roman emperor still has to say to us today.

Or, as Skiba put it, "Every society is based on individuals, and if each and every individual asks themselves these philosophical and political questions, then it also works as a whole."