Article and Photos from Archeology magazine

Isn't it interesting? Epicureans can claim:

-The only preserved library of papyrus rolls from antiquity

-The largest collection of Greek and Roman statuary ever to be found in one place (Villa of the Papyri)

-The longest inscription surviving from the ancient world

-The best and most thorough biography in all of Diogenes Laertius' books

-An oversized share of surviving Greek and Roman cameo rings

-And to cap it all, Lucretius' De Rerum Natura–the only surviving long-form materialist work from antiquity

Not bad for a school that St. Augustine wrote off 16 centuries ago; "Its ashes are so cold that not a single spark can be struck from them."

Quote from JJElbert

Not bad for a school that St. Augustine wrote off 16 centuries ago; "Its ashes are so cold that not a single spark can be struck from them."

And yet, as a whole, barring Lucretius and Laertius, it amounts to a collection of fragments and its lack of popular support and frankly, accessibility means we must make do searching high on end for any small reference and discuss at length many of its obscure elements. It takes a certain willingness to dwell in the garden with the drive to delve into these numerous sources and form a comprehension of the philosophy, oh but for those that do, they'll have an ardent companion to deal with any mysticism and superstition and the means to enjoy life like no other.