Zenodotus (Stoic)

This article is about the Stoic philosopher. For the Neoplatonist philosopher, see Zenodotus (philosopher). For the grammarian, see Zenodotus.

Zenodotus (/zəˈnɒdətəs/; Greek: Ζηνόδοτος; fl. 150 BC) was a Stoic philosopher. He was a pupil of Diogenes of Babylon. All information about him comes from Diogenes Laertius, everything else has been lost.

Poetry

Diogenes Laertius recorded the epitaph Zenodotus wrote for Zeno of Citium:[1]

You made contentment the chief rule of life,

Despising haughty wealth, O God-like Zenon.

With solemn look, and hoary brow serene,

You taught a manly doctrine; and didst found

By your deep wisdom, a great novel school,

Chaste parent of unfearing liberty.

And if your country was Phoenicia,

Why need we grieve, from that land Cadmus came,

Who gave to Greece her written books of wisdom.

Dedications

Chrysippus dedicated a two-book treatise on Proverbs to Zenodotus.[2]

References

  1. ↑ The Lives of the Philosophers by Diogenes Laertius. Book: Life of Zeno, Section 30
  2. ↑ The Lives of the Philosophers by Diogenes Laertius. Book: Lives of Stoic Philosophers, Section 200
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