![]() ![]() ![]() Seneca has been described as “a towering and controversial figure of antiquity” and “the world’s most interesting Stoic”. Philosophyįirst page of the Naturales Quaestiones, made for the Aragonese court Later in life Seneca was married to a woman younger than himself, Pompeia Paulina. Personal lifeĪ few weeks before his exile, Seneca's only son died. In 65 Seneca was forced to take his own life for alleged complicity in the Pisonian conspiracy to assassinate Nero, in which he was probably innocent. It was during these final few years that he composed two of his greatest works: Naturales quaestiones-an encyclopedia of the natural world and his Letters to Lucilius-which document his philosophical thoughts. He concentrated on his studies and seldom visited Rome. Nevertheless, Seneca took absence from the court and led a quiet life in his country estates. He tried to retire twice, in 62 and 64 AD, but Nero refused him on both occasions. ![]() Together with the praetorian prefect Sextus Afranius Burrus, provided competent government for the first five years of Nero's reign.Īfter Burrus's death in 62, Seneca's influence declined rapidly. When Nero became emperor in 54, Seneca became his advisor. In AD 41, Seneca was exiled to the island of Corsica under emperor Claudius, but was allowed to return in 49 to become a tutor to Nero. His father was Seneca the Elder, his elder brother was Lucius Junius Gallio Annaeanus, and his nephew was the poet Lucan. ![]()
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