A colossal statue of the emperor Hadrian was recently
discovered in Sagalassos, an ancient Greco-Roman city in south-central Turkey.
According to archaeologists, the monument was originally between 16 feet in
height (four to five meters). Excavation director Marc Waelkens says that this
is one of the most beautiful portraits of Hadrian ever found.
Along with his adoptive son Marcus Aurelius, Hadrian is well known as one of the
“five good Roman emperors” who illuminated human history through their example
of moral and ethical leadership inspired by stoic philosophy. To the stoics, the
philosopher governor is a mature person who does not govern for his own benefit
nor for the benefit of his political party. The philosopher governor is a person
who gives himself completely to people. He is endowed with the moral right to
govern others because he governs himself, embodying justice, wisdom and
self-mastery.
Maybe a model for renewed ethics in our societies?
