SEG 58.151 Letter from Marcus Aurelius

Letter from Marcus Aurelius

SEG 58.151 Date: 169-177 AD

[Emperor Caesar, son of] the God [Antoninus], [brother of the God Verus] Parthicus Maximus, grandson [of the God Hadrian, great-grandson] of the God [Trajan] [Parthicus, great-great grandson of] the God Nerva, (5)[Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus] [Germanicus Sarmaticus (?), pontifex maximus]. [tribunician power - times, acclaimed emperor - times], [consul - times, father of the] fatherland, to the Areopagos Council and the Council of the 500 and the (10)People of the Athenians, uninscribed space greetings, having visited . . . and of gifts . . . ^[1]

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References:

SEG 58.151 (Translated text) (AIO)

Oliver, Constitutions 183

Translation by: Chris de Lisle

Monument type: Stele

Inscription type: Letter (emperor)

a - Findspot: Acropolis? (EM 3157)
b - Findspot: Athens (EM 6055)
c - Findspot: Athens (EM 8401)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] This fragment derives from the prescript of a letter from Emperor Marcus Aurelius to the Athenians, which must date from the period when he had no co-regent (169-177 AD). The visit mentioned in l. 11 is probably Marcus’ visit to Athens in 176 AD, accompanied by the young Commodus (Cassius Dio 72.31.3). The verb form is singular rather than plural, but that is appropriate in the period before Commodus was promoted to co-regent in 177 AD. Alternatively, it might refer to Lucius Verus’ visit in 162 AD or one of Hadrian’s three visits (S. Follet and D. Peppas-Delmousou, BCH 132, 2008, 478-479, n. 2 = SEG 58.151). On Marcus Aurelius and Athens see IG II² 3410 and, on inscribed Imperial letters, see I Eleusis 513 with notes.

Added: 6 Mar 2026
Updated: 6 Mar 2026
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ID: AIO_3593