Where did Marcus Aurelius write the twelve books of Meditations?
Marcus Aurelius wrote the twelve books of Meditations at Sirmium, Aquincum, and Carnuntum while leading military campaigns along the Danube River between 170 and 180 CE.
Questions about Meditations
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Did Marcus Aurelius intend for his private notes to be published after he died?
It is unlikely that Marcus Aurelius ever intended the writings to be published since they served as private notes to himself without any official title.
When was the first direct mention of the work by Arethas of Caesarea recorded?
The earliest clear mention of the work dates from the early 10th century when Arethas of Caesarea lived between 860 and 935 CE and sent a volume to Demetrius before 907.
Who printed the first edition of Meditations in 1558 or 1559?
Wilhelm Xylander issued the first printed edition of Meditations at Zürich with the help of Conrad Gesner and Andreas Gesner.
Which manuscript serves as one of the two principal sources for all modern texts of Meditations?
The present-day text relies on the Codex Vaticanus 1950 which is a 14th-century manuscript held in the Vatican Library and passed there from Stefano Gradi in 1683.