Epicurus, 341-270 B.C. Epicurus was born of Athenian parents on the island of Samos. He began his philosophical studies at an early age on the islands of the Aegean and the coast of Asia Minor, where he encountered the followers of Plato and Democritus. He first taught at Mytilene, on Lesbos (c.311), and soon moved to Lampsacus on the Hellespont. Around 307 he established in Athens an Epicurean community called the Garden. The Garden became the prototype of most Epicurean groups at the time. Its members included women and at least one slave. The fact that the Epicureans accepted courtesans exposed them to the ridicule of their opponents. However, even the enemies of Epicurus admired their ability to cultivate such close friendships. After his death in 270, the followers of Epicurus celebrated his memory at a monthly feast and his teaching spread rapidly throughout the Greek world. Three letters containing summaries of Epicurean doctrine have been preserved in Diogenes Laertius' Life of Epicurus (see below): To Herodotus (on atomic theory); | |
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