Marcus Aurelius was an able administrator and ruler, but found himself on the northern borders of the Empire fighting a series of defensive wars against Germanic tribes for most of his 19 year reign. He co-ruled with his adoptive brother Lucius Verus for eight years until the latter's death. He decided that his son, Commodus, would succeed him as emperor. Aurelius built very little in Rome, beginning the Column of Marcus Aurelius that was not completed until long after his death. Aurelius remains one of the great figures of Roman history and is generally considered to be the last in a line of good emperors and the end of his reign is often considered the beginning of the decline of the Roman Empire.

    

IMG_1394-20131005: Marcus Aurelius, in the National Museum of Rome - Palazzo Massimo
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IMG_9095-20130929: Marcus Aurelius, in the Capitoline Museum
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IMG_9224-20130929: Marcus Aurelius, in the courtyard of Palazzo Valentini
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IMG_1483-20131005: Marcus Aurelius, in the National Museum of Rome - Baths of Diocletian
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IMG_1687-20131006: Marcus Aurelius, in the National Museum of Rome - Palazzo Altemps
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IMG_6622-20141004: Juvenile portrait of Marcus Aurelius, in the Gallery of the Palazzo Nuovo of the Capitoline Museum
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IMG_6622-20141004: Juvenile portrait of Marcus Aurelius, in the Gallery of the Palazzo Nuovo of the Capitoline Museum
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IMG_6392-20141004: Marcus Aurelius, near the Hall of the Pediment in the Capitoline Museum
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IMG_6672-20141004: Juvenile Marcus Aurelius, about 140 AD, in the Hall of the Emperors of the Palazzo Nuovo of the Capitoline Museum
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IMG_6680-20141004: Marcus Aurelius, in the Hall of the Emperors of the Palazzo Nuovo of the Capitoline Museum
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IMG_9301-20130929: Bust of Marcus Aurelius, in the Hall of the Emperors of Palazzo Nuovo, in the Capitoline Museum
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IMG_6744-20141004: Loricate statue with the head of Marcus Aurelius, in the Hunter with Hare room of the Palazzo Nuovo of the Capitoline Museum
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IMG_6747-20141004: Marcus Aurelius and Faustina the Minor, as Mars and Venus, in the Great Hall of the Palazzo Nuovo of the Capitoline Museum
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IMG_7736-20141007: Head of Marcus Aurelius on an extraneous bust, from the House of the Vestal Virgins in the Roman Forum, now in the National Museum of Rome, Terme di Diocleziano (Baths of Diocletian)
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IMG_7737-20141007: Head of Marcus Aurelius on an extraneous bust, from the House of the Vestal Virgins in the Roman Forum, now in the National Museum of Rome, Terme di Diocleziano (Baths of Diocletian)
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IMG_7739-20141007: Bust of Marcus Aurelius from the impluvium of the Roman villa on Via Anagnina, circa 161 AD, now in the National Museum of Rome, Terme di Diocleziano (Baths of Diocletian)
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• Eight reliefs showing Marcus Aurelius conducting civic duties were originally created on an Arch honoring Marcus Aurelius, but were later moved to the Arch of Constantine (the arch no longer exists).
• Three additional reliefs from that arch are in main stairway in the Capitoline Museum
• The Column of Marcus Aurelius commemorates the victories of Marcus Aurelius in the Marcomannic wars from 172 to 175 AD.
• A copy of the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius is in the center of the Campidoglio, and the original is in the Capitoline Museum.

• My Marcus Aurelius photos