Epistles, Volume III

Seneca, Lucius Annaeus, born at Corduba (modern-day Cordova) around 4 BCE to a prominent and wealthy family, spent an ailing childhood and youth at Rome in the care of an aunt. He became famous for his accomplishments in rhetoric, philosophy, money-making, and imperial service. Despite facing disgrace during Claudius' reign, he later became a tutor and, in 54 CE, an advising minister to Nero, under whom he failed to prevent some of the emperor's worst misdeeds. In 65 CE, Seneca was ordered to take his own life after being (possibly innocently) implicated in a conspiracy. Although wealthy, he preached indifference to wealth; while avoiding pain and death, he promoted the scorn of both. Other contrasts existed between his practice and principles.

Seneca's works include philosophical or moral essays—traditionally called Dialogues—on topics such as providence, steadfastness, the happy life, anger, leisure, tranquillity, the brevity of life, gift-giving, and forgiveness, as well as treatises on natural phenomena. Also extant are 124 epistles, in which he writes in a relaxed style about moral and ethical questions, often relating them to his personal experiences. Notable works include a skit on the official deification of Claudius, Apocolocyntosis (featured in Loeb number 15), and nine rhetorical tragedies based on ancient Greek themes. Unfortunately, many epistles and all his speeches are lost.

The 124 epistles are collected in Volumes IV–VI of the Loeb Classical Library's ten-volume edition of Seneca.