Seneca Was a Stoic Playwright in Rome
Posted on February 20, 2010 - Filed Under Arts & Culture, Travel
When dealing with a city with as much history and tradition as well as world political and cultural significance as Rome Italy, it can be a bit overwhelming trying to decide what to visit and or attend while you are in the city. In addition, most people study Roman history at some point in the academia careers and become fascinated with either a particular time period or religious or cultural institution or genre. Rome was one of the great early Western empires and the atmosphere that radiates through the city is reflective of this. Of course the architecture is as well. One of the aspects of the early Roman society that is frequently honored and well remembered today is the entertainment of ancient Rome and the early theatre. Tourists will frequently attend a production during their stay at one of the hotels in Rome and it is particularly intriguing and satisfying to see a production of one of the classic Roman tragedies or comedies.
Seneca was not only a playwright he was also a philosopher and is frequently remembered for his association and contribution to Stoicism. He is commonly believed to have been alive from 4 BC to 65 AD and was a statesman in addition to his philosophical and dramatic writings. He is well remembered for his version of the Medea story though he wrote a total of nine tragedies. He also wrote one satire though he is almost always considered in association to his tragedies. He also wrote an essay on meteorological studies.
In addition to his writings and artist life he had some major conspiratorial aspects and controversial elements in his life. He was an active participant in the political life of Rome and in AD 65 after a failed plot to kill Nero he was implicated in its planning. There is no evidence that he was part of the conspiracy, however Nero ordered that he commit suicide, which was the standard form of capital punishment and Seneca was forced to cut his wrists open to bleed to death. His reputation has been seen in both a positive and negative light throughout the centuries.
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