Marc Aurel - Mayor State Exhibition 2025

In the "Emperor, Commander, Philosopher" section of the exhibition, the Rheinisches Landesmuseum invites visitors on a journey through time to the Roman Empire during the 2nd century and explores the fascination of Marcus Aurelius. His multifaceted life and the era of the Roman emperor are scrutinised in particular. The archaeological exhibition presents a chronological journey through Marcus Aurelius' life with the help of valuable top exhibits. His lifetime was strongly characterised by contrasts: The long years as heir to the throne were predominantly peaceful, whereas his time as emperor was marked by many wars. His devotion to philosophy in particular makes him an exceptional figure of antiquity and sets him apart from other emperors.

But "What is good heritage?" You will find answers to this question at the Stadtmuseum Simeonstift. For centuries, rulers, state theorists, philosophers and artists have referred to Marcus Aurelius and his "Self-Reflections", which have thus become world literature. Based on this history of reception, the high-calibre exhibits at the Stadtmuseum show how artistic representations of good government have changed. Paintings, sculptures, caricatures and media from eight centuries deal with the question of when a government is considered good or bad and how these ideas affect art and why they are still very relevant today.

The two parts of the exhibition combine to create a multi-layered and highly interesting picture of an exciting epoch.

We look forward to your visit!