Annaeus Seneca, Lucius

Roman thinker, statesman and playwright, Seneca’s writings include several essays, ten tragic plays and 124 letters concerning various moral matters. His works greatly influenced the tragedies written during the Renaissance. A student of Stoicism himself, he conveys the basic principles of this philosophy in his writings by advising his readers to face all problems of life including death with courage and practicality.
Seneca started his career as an advocate. In 49 A. D. he was chosen to tutor the future emperor Nero whom he later helped to rule sagaciously. Three years after he retired in 62 A. D., Seneca was accused of being involved in a conspiracy to assassinate Nero. As a result, he was ordered by the emperor to commit suicide.
Seneca’s major writings include De Ira (On Anger), De Brevitate Vitae (On the Shortness of Life), De Otio (One Leisure), Hercules Furens (The Madness of Hercules), Troades (The Trojan Women), and Epistulae morales ad Lucilium (Collection of 124 Letters Dealing with Moral Issues).
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Roman thinker, statesman and playwright, Seneca’s writings include several essays, ten tragic plays and 124 letters concerning various moral matters.;