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Why did Seneca withdraw from public life in 62 CE?
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Seneca
A 3rd century marble bust of Seneca, after an original bust of the 1st century; in the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Germany
Seneca withdrew from public life in 62 CE primarily due to the death of his close friend and political ally, Sextus Afranius Burrus.12
As favorites of the emperor Nero, Seneca and Burrus had served as the virtual rulers of the Roman Empire since 54 CE, navigating the precarious nature of power under a tyrant. Their tenure included the difficult necessity of condoning or contriving the murder of Nero’s mother, Agrippina, in 59 CE. Following the death of Burrus in 62 CE, Seneca recognized that he could no longer maintain his position and influence, leading him to step away from his political duties to focus on his philosophical writing.12