Early life and adulthood Seneca the Younger

modern statue of seneca in córdoba

seneca tells taken rome in arms of aunt (his mother s stepsister) @ young age, when 5 years old. father resided of life in city. seneca taught usual subjects of literature, grammar, , rhetoric, part of standard education of high-born romans. while still young received philosophical training attalus stoic, , sotion , papirius fabianus, both of whom belonged short-lived school of sextii combined stoicism pythagoreanism. sotion persuaded seneca when young man (in twenties) become vegetarian, practised around year before father urged him desist because practice associated foreign rites . seneca had breathing difficulties throughout life, asthma, , @ point in mid-twenties (c. 20 ad) appears have been struck down tuberculosis. sent egypt live aunt (the same aunt had brought him rome), husband gaius galerius had become prefect of egypt. nursed him through period of ill-health lasted ten years. in 31 ad returned rome aunt; uncle dying on route in shipwreck. aunt s influence allowed seneca elected quaestor (probably after 37 ad) earned him right sit in roman senate.