9781945186240

iography of him by Suetonius. (12.27)
TRAJAN: Marcus Ulpius Traianus, Roman general and emperor (98–117). (4.32)
TROPAEOPHORUS: Perhaps a contemporary senator named in an inscription from
Perinthus. (10.31)
VELIUS RUFUS: Addressee of one of FRONTO’s letters, but otherwise unknown. (12.27)
VERUS (1): Marcus Annius Verus (d. 138), grandfather of Marcus. He was three times
consul (the last two in 121 and 126); he also served as city prefect of Rome about this time. After
the death of his wife he evidently took a concubine who helped raise Marcus. (1.1, 1.17, 9.21)
VERUS (2): Marcus Annius Verus, father of Marcus and husband of LUCILLA. He died
sometime between 130 and 135. (1.2, 8.25)
VERUS (3): Lucius Aurelius Verus (130–169), son of HADRIAN (2)’s intended successor,
Lucius Aelius. Originally named Lucius Ceionius Commodus, he was adopted along with Marcus
by Antoninus Pius and on Antoninus’s death became co-emperor with Marcus. He was entrusted
with the conduct of the Parthian War, and campaigned with Marcus on the northern frontier before
his sudden death on the way back to Rome. (1.17, 8.37)
VESPASIAN: Roman emperor (69–79). His reign represented a period of stability after the
power struggle that followed the death of NERO, but he came into conflict with some members of
the senatorial class, notably the Stoic HELVIDIUS Priscus. (4.32)
VOLESUS: Traditional surname in the Valerius clan, which produced a number of figures
prominent in early historical accounts. Which one Marcus has in mind is uncertain. (4.33)
XANTHIPPE: Wife of SOCRATES and proverbially a shrew. (11.28)
XENOCRATES: Platonic philosopher and head of the Academy at the end of the fourth
century B.C. (6.13)
XENOPHON: Probably a contemporary doctor mentioned by Galen. (10.31)
ZEUS: Sky god and head of the Greek pantheon; Marcus refers to him only rarely and
normally prefers a vaguer formulation such as “God” or “the gods.” (4.23, 5.7, 5.8, 11.8)