Civic duties and family connections, 127–136 Early life and career of Marcus Aurelius

bust of hadrian (national archaeological museum of athens). emperor hadrian patronized young marcus, , may have planned make him long-term successor.

in 127, @ age of six, marcus enrolled in equestrian order on recommendation of emperor hadrian. though not unprecedented, , other children known have joined order, marcus still unusually young. in 128, marcus enrolled in priestly college of salii. since standard qualifications college not met—marcus did not have 2 living parents—they must have been waived hadrian, marcus nominator, special favor child. hadrian had strong affection child, , nicknamed him verissimus, true .

the salii, after name (salire: leap, dance), devoted ritual dance. twice year, @ quinquatria on 19 march , armilustrium on 19 october, played important roles in public ceremonies marking opening , closing of campaigning season. on other days in march , october (and during festival of mars 1 24 march), march through streets of rome, halting @ intervals perform ritual dances, beat shields staffs, , sing carmen saliare, hymn in archaic latin. song have been unintelligible, marcus learned heart. took duties seriously. marcus rose through offices of priesthood, becoming in turn leader of dance, vates (prophet), , master of order. once, when salii throwing crowns onto banqueting couch of gods, customary, marcus fell on brow of mars. in later years, event read auspicious omen heralding marcus future rule.

hadrian did not see of marcus in childhood. spent of time outside rome, on frontier, or dealing administrative , local affairs in provinces. 135, however, had returned italy good. had grown close lucius ceionius commodus, husband of daughter of gaius avidius nigrinus, dear friend of hadrian whom emperor had killed in reign. in 136, shortly after, marcus assumed toga virilis symbolizing passage manhood, hadrian arranged engagement 1 of commodus daughters, ceionia fabia. marcus made prefect of city during feriae latinae after (he appointed commodus). although office held no real administrative significance—the full-time prefect remained in office during festival—it remained prestigious office young aristocrats , members of imperial family. marcus conducted himself @ job.

through commodus, marcus met apollonius of chalcedon, stoic philosopher. apollonius had taught commodus, , enormous impact on marcus, later study him regularly. 1 of 3 people marcus gods having met. @ time, marcus younger sister, annia cornificia, married ummidius quadratus, first cousin. domitia lucilla asked marcus give part of father s inheritance sister. agreed give of it, content grandfather s estate.

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