ABSTRACT
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus was born Marcus Annius Verus in Rome. His father was Annius Verus, a magistrate, and his mother was Domitia Calvilla, also known as Lucilla. The emperor Antoninus Pius was by virtue of his marriage to Annia Galeria Faustina, the sister of Annius Verus, the boy’s uncle. The emperor, who had himself been adopted and named successor by Hadrian, eventually adopted Marcus Annius Verus. The young man then took the name Marcus Aelius Aurelius Verus. The name Aelius came from Hadrian’s family, and Aurelius was the name of Antoninus Pius. The young man took the title Caesar in 139 and, upon becoming emperor, replaced his original name of Verus with Antoninus. Hence, he is known to history as Marcus Aurelius Antoninus.
