That personage on horseback dominating the piazza of the Capitol, were he alive and not a bronze statue, would I think be very happy about this Symposium now opening.

I may even imagine that Marcus Aurelius would leave his role of sceptical emperor-philosopher to assume that of paterfamilias, smiling benignly upon us all, as he was the father of twins: Commodus, emperor after him, and Antonius Geminus.

He had a special medal struck, when these twins were born to him by Faustina, bearing her image and that of Juno Lucina, goddess of fertility. He then had six children, and Faustina was to bear him seven more — quite a large family, as is often the case when there are twins.

Yes, I am sure that Marcus Aurelius would rejoice at the opening today in Rome of this first Symposium of twin researchers, their object being not only to know twin better, but also to assist them, and because the Symposium is the first, the beginning, we hope, of a series of many more most fruitful ones.