Aristocreon

Aristocreon (Greek: Ἀριστοκρέων; fl. 200 BC) was a Stoic philosopher and the nephew of Chrysippus.

He was a son of the sister of Chrysippus, and became his pupil.[1] Chrysippus dedicated several of his works to him.[2] Of the few facts known about Aristocreon's life, it is known that between 229 and 190 BC, he was in Athens, where he obtained the official position of a Proxenos (a consular agent acting for another city).[3] He was still alive in Athens in 184 BC.[3] Plutarch records that Aristocreon erected a bronze statue of his uncle on a pillar and engraved a verse to him:

Of uncle Chrysippus Aristocreon this likeness erected;
The knots the Academy tied, the cleaver, Chrysippus, dissected.[4]

It is not known whether this Aristocreon is the same as the author of a description of Egypt.[5]

Notes

  1. ↑ Diogenes Laertius, vii. 185; Plutarch, De Stoicorum repugnantiis 1033e
  2. ↑ Diogenes Laertius, vii. 196-7, 202
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Tiziano Dorandi, Chapter 2: Chronology, in Algra et al. (2005) The Cambridge History of Hellenistic Philosophy, page 40. Cambridge University Press
  4. ↑ Plutarch, De Stoicorum repugnantiis 1033e
  5. ↑ Pliny, Naturalis historia, v. 9., vi. 29., 30.; Aelian, Natura Animalium, vii. 40.