On April 26, 121, in Rome, Italy, Marcus Annius Verus was born. He grew up in a wealthy and prestigious family. By the time Marcus had been born, his grandfather had already held several high ranking government positions; his aunt was married to the future emperor; and his grandmother was set to inherit one of the largest fortunes in Rome at the time. Even as a young child, Marcus was a hardworking and studious pupil. A few of his favorite tutors included Apollonius of Chalcedon, Junius Rusticus, and Claudius Maximus. These tutors in particular he admired for their Stoic beliefs, which greatly influenced his future philosophies and principles. It was said that he held his tutors in such a high regard that he kept gold portraits of them in
