11-12-2012, 11:43 PM
I'd say that considering how many years M.A. spent on campaigns, even an oily bath must have seemed pretty luxurious by his troops' standards!
In all seriousness, though, we have to remember that Marcus Aurelius most likely didn't want to be an Emperor in the first place. I'm sure that to a philosopher, dealing with Imperial politics and all the problems of being a chief of state would seem like a filthy cesspit in which to bathe.
Besides, regardless of the actual state of his bath, a philosopher would never turn down a good metaphor!
In all seriousness, though, we have to remember that Marcus Aurelius most likely didn't want to be an Emperor in the first place. I'm sure that to a philosopher, dealing with Imperial politics and all the problems of being a chief of state would seem like a filthy cesspit in which to bathe.
Besides, regardless of the actual state of his bath, a philosopher would never turn down a good metaphor!
Take what you want, and pay for it
-Spanish proverb
-Spanish proverb
