When was Seneca the Younger born and where?
Seneca the Younger was born in Colonia Patricia Corduba, now known as Córdoba, within the Roman province of Baetica. Historical records suggest his birth year falls between 4 BC and 1 BC.
Seneca the Younger was born in Colonia Patricia Corduba, now known as Córdoba, within the Roman province of Baetica. Historical records suggest his birth year falls between 4 BC and 1 BC.
Emperor Claudius ordered Seneca the Younger into exile on the island of Corsica in AD 41 following accusations of adultery with Julia Livilla brought by Empress Messalina. The Senate initially pronounced a death sentence but Claudius commuted it to eight years of banishment.
In AD 65, Nero ordered Seneca the Younger to commit suicide after he was caught up in the aftermath of the Pisonian conspiracy. He followed tradition by severing several veins to bleed to death while his wife Pompeia Paulina attempted to share his fate.
Seneca the Younger wrote Letters to Lucilius consisting of 124 letters dealing with moral issues addressed to Lucilius Junior. His other major works include De Ira which examines anger and De Vita Beata which defends wealth along Stoic lines when properly gained and spent.
Ten plays are attributed to Seneca the Younger though scholars debate whether eight or all ten were written by him. Thyestes is considered his masterpiece and these plays became a source for Revenge Tragedy starting with Thomas Kyd's The Spanish Tragedy.