MEDITATIONS

Marcus' literary legacy is mentioned by the historian Herodian in the mid-third century, who writes, "He was concerned with all aspects of excellence, and in his love of ancient literature he was second to no man, Roman or Greek; this is evident from all his sayings and writings which have come down to us," a passage that could refer to the Meditations. Before embarking on the Marcomannic Wars, Marcus was asked to publish his Precepts of Philosophy in case something should happen to him, but instead "for three days discussed the books of his Exhortations one after the other," according to the Historia Augusta's biography of Avidius Cassius, thought to have been written in the 4th century. In around AD 364, the orator Themistius makes a dubious statement. "You do not need the exhortations (Greek: ) of Marcus," he declares in an address to Emperor Valens, "On Brotherly Love." [nine] Another possible connection can be found in the Palatine Anthology, a collection of Greek poems originating from the 10th century but including much older material.