James Romm

Yes, Marcus Aurelius is the anti-Nero in many ways.

What's ironic is that his teachers had all learned from Epictetus, who had been present at the court of Nero and had probably seen the disaster with Seneca.

So there is a direct line of transmission, really, from Seneca to Marcus.

But the two of them are very distinct.

And of course, Nero and Marcus are just antithetical.

The one man who clung to his moral principles.

Yes.

Even in spite of the immense duress, immense pressure.

And the other who collapsed, really, as soon as the opportunity for wrongdoing came around.

And so maybe that's the swing vote.

That could be, yes, the parentage.

And, of course, Nero also lacked a father.

But so did Marcus.

Well, Marcus was adopted and had a very positive role model to look up to in Antoninus.

But the problem of Nero being fatherless for—

Really, his first 13 years and then having Seneca as a surrogate father who at that point was already, you know, almost two generations older and not a very paternal type.

I don't think never had children of his own.

So, yeah, parenting was a big dividing line for those two.

Mm-hmm.

Yes.