Maráz Borbála: Marcus Aurelius bronz császárportré a római kori Lugioból. (Pécs, 1997.)

the sound of resignation so characteristic for the 2nd century stoicism also can be heard: „Of the life of man the duration is but a point, its substance streaming away, its perception dim, the fabric of the entire body prone to decay, and the soul a vortex, and fortune incalculable, and fame uncertain. In a word all the things of the body are as a river, and the things of the soul as a dream and a vapour; and life is a warfare and a pilgrim's sojourn, and fame after death is only forgetfulness. " Or: „But a little while and thou shalt be burnt ashes or a few dry bones, and possibly a name, possibly not a name even. And a name is but sound and a far off echo. And all that we prize so highly in our lives is empty and corrupt and paltry, and we but as puppies snapping at each other, as quarelsome children now laughing and anon in tears. " The Emperor's „Communings with himself were written at least partly in the Pannonian theatre of war, somewhere at the Garam river and in the camp at Carnuntum. They are interwoven with resigned thoughts about the life which is streaming away, the loneliness and tiredness of the soul. These diary-like meditations clearly reveal the character of the philosopher emperor, for whom the imperial court was seen as a stepmother, and philosophy proved to be real mother of his. Nevertheless the thoughtful voice of the wise man speaking to us from the „ Communings" belongs to the Emperor never forgetting the dignity and duty of a ruler: „Every hour make up thy mind sturdily as a Roman and a man to do what thou hast in hand with scrupulous and unaffected dignity and love of thy kind and independence and justice; and to give thyself rest from all other impressions. And thou wilt give thyself this, if thou dost execute every act of thy life as though it were thy last.,.". „... let the God that is in thee be lord of a living creature, that is manly, and full of age, and concerned with statecraft, and a Roman, and a ruler, who hath taken his post as one who awaits the signal of recall from life in all readiness, needing no oath nor any man as his voucher...".