Gnaeus Claudius Severus Arabianus

Background

Severus was the son of the consul and the first Roman Governor of Arabia Petraea, Gaius Claudius Severus by an unnamed mother. He was born and raised in Pompeiopolis, a city in the Roman province of Galatia.

Career

Severus was of Pontian Greek descent. Severus was the philosophical mentor of Marcus Aurelius. In Rome, Severus assumed a reputation as a man of spirit and as a great philosophical mentor.

Severus was evidently a politician with a deep interest in political philosophy and this is revealed, on Marcus Aurelius’ opinion of Severus in Meditations (114n):.

Connections

friends:

Roman Emperor Hadrian

follower:

Cato, Dio Brutus

teacher:

Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius