Morals

1685

de Beer Eb 1685 S

London: Printed by M. Flesher, for Ch. Brome

Lucius Annaeus Seneca (c. 5 BC-65 AD) was a Spanish-born Roman philosopher, a statesman and a playwright. The literature Seneca left behind includes twelve philosophical essays and 124 letters in which he expounds his Stoic beliefs. Christianity and Stoicism share some common philosophical ground and some of Seneca’s thoughts still resonate today. De Vita Beata – ‘Of a Happy Life’ and De Brevitate Vitae – ‘On the Shortness of Life’ – are two of his works on how to achieve happiness and how to make the most of life. Seneca was forced to commit suicide for his alleged role in a conspiracy to kill the Emperor Nero. This plate depicts Seneca in a warm bath in his last stages of his death.