Castra Regina
Only a few cities in the world can boast can boast two UNESCO World Heritage titles. Regensburg belongs to this exclusive circle.
The UNESCO World heritage site “Frontiers of the Roman Empire” was extended to include the Roman Danube Limes (Nasser Limes). The inscription includes special Roman sites that lie along the Danube Limes. Regensburg can boast numerous exhibits. The most spectacular is certainly the “Porta Praetoria” in Regensburg, the north gate of the Roman legionary camp “Castra Regina”.
Marcus Aurelius in Regensburg
Marcus Aurelius, also known as Marc Aurel, was a Roman emperor and philosopher (121-180 AD) known for his Stoic philosophy, which he recorded in his Meditations. His connection to Regensburg (then Castra Regina) goes back to Roman times, when the Romans built the fortress Castra Regina under his rule in 179 AD to secure the northern border of the Roman Empire along the Danube. This was part of the Limes fortifications, which were intended to protect the empire from the Germanic tribes.
Life in the harsh military world of Castra Regina and on the Danube frontier offered him many opportunities to put his stoic philosophy into practice. In the Meditations, he talks about how to deal with pain, fear, death and loss, all of which were omnipresent in the military context.
The Meditations are a testament to his inner struggles, which he sought to overcome through the philosophy of Stoicism. The principles of Stoicism – self-discipline, reason, virtue and acceptance of the inevitable – were not just theoretical concepts for him, but vital survival strategies.
Marcus Aurelius Book Meditations. The stoic bible.
Marcus Aurelius probably completed his book “Meditations” in a field camp near Regensburg or in Castra Regina.
Project Gutenberg eBook of Meditations (Free download / Online) – https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/2680/pg2680-images.html