I’m very pleased to let you all know that my edition of the Golden Book of Marcus Aurelius is now on Amazon (.com and on the international Amazon sites). There are two versions, a full colour version and, if budget is a consideration, a cheaper black and white version. As I have said before, the text of the book is available freely in several locations, but if you are old fashioned like and prefer reading offline, this can serve as a companion text to the podcast. Here are the links to some of the pages:

Amazon.com full colour

Amazon.co.uk full colour

Amazon.com black and white

Amazon.co.uk black and white

If you decide to purchase a copy I hope it gives you as much joy as my copy gives me.

Hello again everyone. I was very pleased to have visited Rome last week, and thought you might enjoy some of the photographs that I took in, and outside the Capitoline Museum. The Equestrian Statue of Marcus, which I was very much looking forward to seeing can be found in the museum, and I was not disappointed; it is breathtaking. There is also a copy of it in the square just outside the front that sits atop a pedestal designed by Michelangelo. I also have posted photographs of some very nice reliefs in the museum depicting Marcus displaying the virtues of clemency, triumph and sacrifice. If you think the statue of triumph looks a little unbalanced, it might interest you to know that it is because his son Commodus was originally depicted in the chariot beside Marcus, but was later removed after Commodus was condemned to the damnatio memoriae whereby images of the disgraced would be forever destroyed. If you are interested in Marcus and in Rome, I’d recommend a visit to the Capitoline Museum. Enjoy!

http://goo.gl/L7NWlY

In the final episode, Marcus covers a range of areas, declaring with certainty that the Gods exist, that we are all one collective soul, and gives us a nice perspective on our lives measured against the vastness of eternity, and draws the conclusion that death is the natural order of the universe.
If you’ve made it this far, I’d especially welcome your comments on the website or through the ratings or comments sections of learnoutloud, iTunes or however else you found the podcast. I sincerely hope you have enjoyed this podcast, but am keen to improve, and if you have any ideas as to what you would like to hear next, please let me know.
Although this is the final book (the twelfth book), I may do some additional episodes so please watch this space.

http://goo.gl/L7NWlY

Bust of Marcus Aurelius in the Istanbul Archaeological Museum (Photograph G. Dall’Orto)

In this penultimate book, Marcus discloses the 4 dispositions of the mind to be aware of and rectify, and he also gives us 10 heads or contemplations /maxims to live according to (9 of his own, and 1 that he borrows form Hercules):

http://goo.gl/L7NWlY

Courtesy of Kandschwar, this is a picture of Marcus supporting the Kaiserbrücke (Emperor Bridge), in Mainz, Germany.

Marcus explores the idea of Truth, Modesty and Goodness. He encourages us to teach others as kinsmen (or to die), and where appropriate, to collect ourselves. He also shares a joke:

“What is it that is slow, and yet quick? Merry, and yet grave?
He that in all things doth follow reason for his guide”

http://goo.gl/L7NWlY

The Column of Marcus Aurelius, in Piazza Colonna, Rome, Italy. Marcus has been replaced at its top by St Paul.

Marcus explores and substantiates his assertion that injustice is against nature, also the sin of omission (for example failing to teach someone their error is our sin), and that we are all naturally reasonable creatures, but that we forget this. He believes it is our actions and what we do that matters, and in our deeds we must recognise that we are part of a society. He also alludes to a personal dislike of politicians:

http://goo.gl/L7NWlY

This photo of The Arch of Marcus Aurelius is courtesy of TripAdvisor. According to Girl Solo in Arabia (http://girlsoloinarabia.typepad.com), built in 163 AD in the Greek style, this arch straddles the decumanus maximus and the cardo-maximus in the ancient Roman city of Oea which is now Tripoli. Besides Roman columns re-used in newer buildings in the medina, this is the only existing Roman monument in the city.

Some 1500 years before Sir Isaac Newton undertook his exploration of light, Marcus was also trying to understand it. His conclusions (for me) evoke echoes of the jurisprudence of the light of natural reason of Thomas Aquinas, and also reminds me of a famous Bradford quote about light where he speaks about evangelism:

“Thus out of small beginnings greater things have been produced by His hand that made all things of nothing, and gives being to all things that are; and, as one small candle may light a thousand, so the light here kindled hath shone unto many”.

The remainder of book eight is very specific and personal to Marcus and leads me to draw the conclusion of a dutiful but unhappy Marcus, surrounded by sycophants and yes-men, his biggest fear perhaps becoming vainglorious. He compares emperors with philosophers, and he recommends that we develop and round our minds to make them unconquerable.

http://goo.gl/L7NWlY

Thomas Aquinas, who had a theory of a light of natural reason, painting by Gentile da Fabriano

Book Seven covers a range of topics in a journey from wickedness to tranquility. Marcus explores what wickedness truly means, and scoffs at the idea of eliminating it, concluding instead that the best we can do is restrain it, with anger and passion being the enemy of reason and therefore against nature. He states that no-one is bereft of the truth (“straight of itself, not made straight”) and compels us to pity (rather than despise) the fool. Marcus says that immortality is mans greatest desire (however unattainable) and advises therefore that we live every day as if it were our last, not worrying about the future (as it will all be ok in the end, and although the body and mind may suffer, the soul does not). He encourages us to keep our essence (“I must still be as an emerald”), and appears to be greatly moved by the plight of Socrates who was of course forced to drink poison:

https://goo.gl/SvsJUe

Socrates is forced to drink the poison hemlock, depiction by Jacques-Louis David, on display at the The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

In this book, Marcus speaks of the common good, lists some of his heroes, and concludes that we live in a rational, all-connected universe in perpetual flux and regeneration, and to rejoice in seeing the best in others. Although he hasn’t decided if there is one God or many, he advises to worship them just in case:

https://goo.gl/MFemJL

Me in the Roman town of Saduce, or as its known now, Torremolinos, Spain.

This episode was recorded in Torremolinos (in Roman times, Saduce) in Spain. For more information about this wonderful place, here are some links:
http://www.visitcostadelsol.com/municipalities/facts-about-towns-and-villages/torremolinos-p10061/user-information-t15853
and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torremolinos

Book Five, in which Marcus encourages us to stir from bed, do our duty with courage, and to self-examine our actions, without seeking reward or recompense, is now ready at the following link:

https://goo.gl/2aRDnR

Mario Balotelli, photograph by Олег Дубина. If you’d like to know why, you will just have to listen to the podcast.

Book Four is ready now. In this book, Marcus describes how to (as I would put it) “get Zen”. In an episode about acceptance of the vastness of eternity, the vanity of seeking fame, and the consideration of the world as “one living substance, and having but one soul”, he recommends that a man “cannot any wither retire better than to his own soul”. He also uses some imagery that conjures up a sense of the hustle and bustle of Roman times:

https://goo.gl/ZdWR1T

Bust of Marcus Aurelius, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

This podcast episode gives a little background information on Marcus, and on the Golden Book:

http://goo.gl/L7NWlY

I’ve numbered this episode as number 13, but you haven’t missed any episodes, I’d just like to keep numbers 1-12 for the books. Please don’t be alarmed.

Denarius featuring Marcus Aurelius

Podcast episode 3 of Book Three is now ready at the following link. In this book, Marcus tells us some stories of Hippocrates, Alexander and others, and makes an interesting reference to “God” perhaps suggesting that he was monotheistic (although he was no friend to the Christians).
https://goo.gl/2x0ba4

Bust of Marcus Aurelius as a young boy, Capitoline Museum

I’ve discovered that the seven maps I’ve referred to in the book two podcast are actually online, so I am adding a gallery of them here through which you can find the original. I hope you find these useful – I think they are an invaluable aid – they are from Plutarch Roman Lives: A Selection of Eight Lives (Oxford World’s Classics), and I’d recommend you buy a copy if you can afford it. Although the period of the book is only up to about 100 years before Marcus was born, they are still relevant. Clicking on each will bring you to the larger image.

Map 1: Rome

Map 2: Italy

Map 3: Greece

Map 4: Gaul

Map 5: Spain

Map 6: Roman Empire, Central Portion

Map 7: Roman Empire, Eastern Portion

Book two, in which Marcus discusses life, death, the fleetingness of time and the universe in the natural order of things, is now ready at the link below. Book two is my favourite, so I hope you enjoy it too.

https://goo.gl/4ghRHs

A bust of Marcus Aurelius in the Glyptothek, Munich

Hi everyone,
Book one, wherein Marcus records what and from whom, whether parents, friends, masters or the gods; by their good examples, or good advice and counsel he had learned, is now ready at the link below:
https://goo.gl/6Vbqac