Seneca

Seneca the Younger was a Roman Stoic philosopher and statesman. Born in Cordoba and raised in Rome where he was trained in rhetoric and philosophy. He was a tutor and advisor to the emperor Nero. He was forced to take his own life for alleged complicity in a conspiracy to assassinate Nero, in which he was likely to have been innocent. His stoic and calm suicide has become the subject of numerous paintings. As a writer Seneca is known for his philosophical works, and for his plays which are all tragedies. His philosophical writings include a dozen philosophical essays, and one hundred and twenty-four letters dealing with moral issues.

This scan was produced from an ancient double herme of Seneca and Socrates. Many other sculptures of a gaunt figure are pseudo-Senecas, perhaps reflecting the spirit of Seneca's dedication to Stoicism.