Marius the Epicurean · Character

Faustina

Empress and wife of Marcus Aurelius, whose reputation for scandal touches the court.

minor

Faustina's tie to Marcus Aurelius is one of the pressures that moves Marius the Epicurean—worth meeting in the text, not only on a cast list.

Empress seated with her ladies in the Senate to listen to Aurelius's discourse.

Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.

With Marcus Aurelius (family): Faustina is Marcus Aurelius's wife, their relationship marked by imperial duty, rumored infidelity, and…

Continue beside the text

The fuller portrait of Faustina sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

Character Web

12 connections

A slice of how Faustina sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Character groups

+7 more in the full Character Web

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

In this passage, Marius reaches an emotional and psychological peak by confronting his own mortality and the d…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

Marcus Aurelius
family · ambivalent
Faustina is Marcus Aurelius's wife, their relationship marked by imperial duty, rumored… How this plays out →

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

Faustina appears across 6 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

XII: The Divinity That Doth Hedge a King
Empress seated with her ladies in the Senate to listen to Aurelius's discourse.
XIII: The "Mistress and Mother" of Palaces
The empress, described as the most beautiful woman in the world, warming her hands over a fire; her expression is enigmatic and restless, and rumors about her conduct are noted.
Stoicism at Court
The empress, part of the refined company assembled at the Temple of Peace.
Beata Urbs
Rumored to be involved in the death of Lucius Verus.
XIX: The Will as Vision
Her wardrobe is sold at auction for the war effort, and she bears the loss without complaint.
XXVII: The Triumph of Marcus Aurelius
Her memory is honored with a temple, golden image, altar, and orphan foundation; her ambiguous life haunts the villa.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Faustina unlock in the free preview.