SUNDAY WEEKLY ZOOM - 12:30 PM EDT - Ancient Text Study: De Rerum Natura by Lucretius -- Read the post for our December 7, 2025 meeting -- or find out how to attend.
As is everything else on the "Epicurus College" website, this is little more than a dream at this point, but I think it's a good goal:
Let's consider professor Erler's arguments as he points out in his book"Epicurus: An introduction to his practical ethics and politics".
He identifies the man wearing the wreath of ivy as Epicurus. He refers to the letter to Menoeceus. The ivy man is surrounded by four people of every age. This shall represent Epicurus' call for philosophing being a young guy as well as being an old men.
He also argues that Epicurus is characterized by words by Sidonius Apollinaris:
"You do not burn with envy at the thought of those paintings all over the gymnasia of the Areopagus and in the prytanea showing Speusippus with his head bowed forward, Aratus with his head bent back, Epicurus with unwrinkled skin, Diogenes with long beard, Socrates with trailing hair, Aristotle with out-thrust arm."
Finally, Erler refers to Horace. Erler writes "the fat and sleek man with good keeping."
Personally, I'd also add the fact that one of the guys is lying on the shoulder of the suggested Epicurus, searching for philosophy as help and guidance.
He also argues that Epicurus is characterized by words by Sidonius Apollinaris:
"You do not burn with envy at the thought of those paintings all over the gymnasia of the Areopagus and in the prytanea showing Speusippus with his head bowed forward, Aratus with his head bent back, Epicurus with unwrinkled skin, Diogenes with long beard, Socrates with trailing hair, Aristotle with out-thrust arm."
That's an interesting quote I don't think I have focused on before. Do those observations also carry over beyond Socrates and Aristotle also to Speusippus and Aratus? I will have to look up what is available on that. I suppose it could be argued that the figure in orange does not appear to have wrinkled skin either.
If someone were looking for "fat and sleek...." then the wreathed figure does fit that description, but would that not refer to "a hog in Epicurus' herd" rather than to Epicurus himself?
If someone were looking for "fat and sleek...." then the wreathed figure does fit that description, but would that not refer to "a hog in Epicurus' herd" rather than to Epicurus himself?
I was also irritated by professor Erler's words but he writes as follows: " 'Epicurus with unwrinkled skin': This reminds us of one of Horace's famous dictums about Epicurus, the fat and sleek man with good keeping." (He refers to "Hor. Epist. 1.4.15." . Perhaps this quotation might be clarifying.)
I see, Erler refers to the same phrase we are already talking about.
Raphael Raul with your visual perspective, I'm wondering what your thoughts are on this subject? Assuming that the Renaissance painter Raphael included Epíkouros in "The School of Athens", which figure would you assume him to be? (You can find more context in previous posts).
History generally recognizes this as being Epíkouros:
Many of us tend to think that's incorrect, given the option of this figure:
Or perhaps the truth is something contrary to either of these positions.
I just wanted your perspective, given your latest artistic contribution.
