Lucius Annaeus Seneca, De Vita Beata [On the Happy Life]

Matheus Clemente De Pietro (J W Goethe University of Frankfurt)
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De vita beata

is one of the ten extant so-called

Dialogi

written by Seneca. It discusses the theme of happiness from a Stoic point of view.

The addressee is Seneca’s older brother Iunius Annaeus Gallio (consul suffectus 56 CE). While governor of Greece (at that time the province of Achaea) in 51-52 CE (SIG 2 801 D), he is said to have dismissed charges that a group of Jews had put against the Christian apostle Paul of Tarsus (Acta apostolorum 18.12-17). Like Seneca himself, Gallio was extremely wealthy and counted among the “friends” of the current emperor Claudius (SIG 2 801 D; Mratschek-Halfmann 1993: 308).

The addressee is Seneca’s older brother Iunius Annaeus Gallio (

consul suffectus

56 CE). While governor of Greece (at that time the province of Achaea) in 51-52 CE (

SIG

2 801…

1949 words

Citation: Clemente De Pietro, Matheus. "De Vita Beata". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 12 August 2011 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=32161, accessed 29 March 2024.]

32161 De Vita Beata 3 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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