Lucius Annaeus Seneca (c. 4 BC – 65 AD) was a Roman philosopher, statesman, and playwright — one of the most influential minds of the ancient world. Born in Córdoba, Spain, he rose to become advisor to the Emperor Nero, navigating power, exile, and tragedy with the same stoic resolve he preached. His Letters to Lucilius, written in the final years of his life, remain among the most personal and practical works of philosophy ever written.