Phaedrus the Epicurean
Encyclopedia
Phaedrus was an Epicurean philosopher. He was the head (scholarch
) of the Epicurean school in Athens
after the death of Zeno of Sidon
around 75 BCE, until his own death in 70 or 69 BCE. He was a contemporary of Cicero
, who became acquainted with him in his youth at Rome
. During his residence in Athens (80 BC) Cicero renewed his acquaintance with him. Phaedrus was at that time an old man, and was already a leading figure of the Epicurean school. He was also on terms of friendship with Velleius, whom Cicero introduces as the defender of the Epicurean tenets in the De Natura Deorum
(On the Nature of the Gods), and especially with Atticus
. Cicero especially praises his agreeable manners. He had a son named Lysiadas. Phaedrus was succeeded by Patro
.
Cicero wrote to Atticus requesting Phaedrus' essay On gods . Cicero used this work to aid his composition of the first book of the De Natura Deorum
. Not only did he develop his account of Epicurean doctrine using it, but also the account of the doctrines of earlier philosophers.
Scholarch
A scholarch is the head of a school. The term was especially used for the heads of schools of philosophy in ancient Athens, such as the Platonic Academy, whose first scholarch was Plato himself...
) of the Epicurean school in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
after the death of Zeno of Sidon
Zeno of Sidon
Zeno of Sidon was an Epicurean philosopher from the Phoenician city of Sidon. His writings do not survive, but there are some epitomes of his lectures preserved among the writings of his pupil Philodemus.-Life:...
around 75 BCE, until his own death in 70 or 69 BCE. He was a contemporary of Cicero
Cicero
Marcus Tullius Cicero , was a Roman philosopher, statesman, lawyer, political theorist, and Roman constitutionalist. He came from a wealthy municipal family of the equestrian order, and is widely considered one of Rome's greatest orators and prose stylists.He introduced the Romans to the chief...
, who became acquainted with him in his youth at Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. During his residence in Athens (80 BC) Cicero renewed his acquaintance with him. Phaedrus was at that time an old man, and was already a leading figure of the Epicurean school. He was also on terms of friendship with Velleius, whom Cicero introduces as the defender of the Epicurean tenets in the De Natura Deorum
De Natura Deorum
De Natura Deorum is a philosophical dialogue by Roman orator Cicero written in 45 BC. It is laid out in three "books", each of which discuss the theology of different Roman and Greek philosophers...
(On the Nature of the Gods), and especially with Atticus
Titus Pomponius Atticus
Titus Pomponius Atticus, born Titus Pomponius , came from an old but not strictly noble Roman family of the equestrian class and the Gens Pomponia. He was a celebrated editor, banker, and patron of letters with residences in both Rome and Athens...
. Cicero especially praises his agreeable manners. He had a son named Lysiadas. Phaedrus was succeeded by Patro
Patro the Epicurean
Patro was an Epicurean philosopher. He lived for some time in Rome, where he became acquainted, amongst others, with Cicero, and with the family of Gaius Memmius. Either now, or subsequently, he also gained the friendship of Atticus. From Rome he either removed or returned to Athens, and there...
.
Cicero wrote to Atticus requesting Phaedrus' essay On gods . Cicero used this work to aid his composition of the first book of the De Natura Deorum
De Natura Deorum
De Natura Deorum is a philosophical dialogue by Roman orator Cicero written in 45 BC. It is laid out in three "books", each of which discuss the theology of different Roman and Greek philosophers...
. Not only did he develop his account of Epicurean doctrine using it, but also the account of the doctrines of earlier philosophers.