Distinguishing Metrodorus of Chios from Metrodorus of Lampsacus

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    In our discussions of the "Aetius / Placata" volume we see numbers of references to "Metrodorus" - some of which may be Metrodorus of Chios (a Democritean and predecessor to Epicurus) and some of which are Metrodorus of Lampsacus (one of Epicurus' primary followers). There are huge differences between the two, including Metrodorus of Chios following Democritus' lead toward skepticism and "nothing is real except atoms and void" which Epicurus (and therefore presumably Metrodorus of Lampsacus) vigorously rejected.

    It's going to be easy to confuse these two together, so this thread is intended to provide a place where we can post about how they differ and/or resemble each other.

    Thanks to Bryan for pointing this out:

    When Aetius mentions Metrodorus, it seems he is typically referring to Metrodorus of Chios:

    Metrodorus of Chios - Wikipedia

    And to Don for additional resources to follow below

    Metrodorus was not an uncommon name.

    On Metrodorus of Chios:

    Diogenes Laertius, Lives of Eminent PhilosophersLess
    (English) (Greek, ed. R.D. Hicks)
    book 2, chapter 3: ... this thesis was defended at greater length by his friend Metrodorus of Lampsacus, who was the first to busy himself
    book 2, chapter 11: ... Megarian philosopher: "for from Theophrastus he drew away the theorist Metrodorus and Timagoras of Gela, from Aristotle the Cyrenaic philosopher,
    book 5, chapter 2: ... Honey, one book. Compendium on the Doctrines of Metrodorus, one book. Two books of Meteorology. ... Demotimus, Demaratus, Callisthenes, Melantes, Pancreon, Nicippus. Aristotle, the son of Metrodorus and Pythias, shall also have the right to study
    book 5, chapter 5: ... ; he was also the means of bringing his countryman Metrodorus into prominence; (12) a grammarian of Erythrae enrolled as
    book 7, chapter 7: ... The Philosopher's Inquiries. Dialectical Definitions addressed to Metrodorus, six books. On the Terms used in Dialectic... Fourth series : Of Predicates, addressed to Metrodorus, ten books. Of Nominatives and Oblique Cases... Tenth series : Attack upon Common Sense, addressed to Metrodorus, six books. Defence of Common Sense, addressed to... . Definitions of the Good or Virtuous, addressed to Metrodorus, two books. Definitions of the Bad or Vicious, addressed to Metrodorus, two books. Definitions of the Morally Intermediate, addressed to Metrodorus, two books. Definitions of the Generic Notions [in Ethics], addressed to Metrodorus, seven books. Definitions concerned with other Branches of
    book 9, chapter 9: ... It is also strange that there is no Life of Metrodorus of Chios or of Nausiphanes. Diogenes
    book 9, chapter 10: ... fide , 9, p. 591. and the latter under Metrodorus of Chios, who used to declare that he knew ... not even the fact that he knew nothing ; while Metrodorus was a pupil of Nessas of Chios, though some

    In referring to Chios and Lampsacus (and also Samos as to Epicurus) this is the place to refer to my handy "Map of Places of Significance to Epicurean Philosophy!"

    Unfortunately, if we have one it's buried somewhere....

    I would normally look for a link to something like that here:

    - Epicureanfriends.com
    www.epicureanfriends.com

    And there we do have this great map by Eikadistes:

    Thread

    Epicurean Communities of the Ancient World

    epicureanfriends.com/wcf/attachment/2790/

    School at LAMPSACUS (modern Northwestern Turkey) Founded by Epicurus

    The GARDEN (O KHΠOΣ) of ATHENS (Central Greece) Founded by Epicurus

    Community in CORINTH (Peloponnese peninsula, Greece)

    Community in CHALCIS (Euboea island, Greece)

    Community in THEBES (Boeotia, Central Greece)

    Community in THESSALONIKI (Macedonia region, Greece)

    Community in KOS (Southeastern island of Greece)

    School at RHODES (Southeastern island of Greece)

    School at AMASTRIS (Northern…
    Eikadistes
    June 6, 2022 at 4:34 PM

    But unfortunately it really isn't designed to serve as an "orientation to major places"

    So I guess over time we go looking for something additional we can produce or duplicate here on the website as a standard reference.

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