Metrodorus project

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PDF

    This is going to be a longer post, so here's a brief summary of what this is about:

    The attached PDF contains 100 fragments related to Metrodorus' life and works. The document includes both ancient testimonia and extant fragments. It's divided into two sections: Life and Works. The first one focuses on Metrodorus' biography; the second on his philosophy.

    Now, here's a detailed description of the project for anyone interested.

    Margherita Isnardi Parente published a book in Italian called "Epicuro: Opere". This book has never been translated into English. To my knowledge, it contains the most comprehensive collection of fragments related to Metrodorus. I made a list of these fragments and undertook a task of finding as many professional English translations as possible. Out of 100 fragments, I managed to track down 86 translations in 25 different publications. archive.org; twentiers.com; gutenberg.org and en.wikisource.org websites were the most helpful resources. The 16 fragments without professional translation are also included but they are grayed out to indicate machine translation, which can introduce errors and can be of lesser quality. Machine translation was performed on Parente's Italian source material.

    I made sure that every fragment in the collection has a number in square brackets in its heading. The heading itself gives information about the source of the fragment, the number leads to sources section with detailed information about the translation and the publication from which the translation originates. The translator's name (if available) is also provided. Each of the heading is clickable and is linked with the corresponding publication.

    Although Parente's arrangement of fragments makes logical sense, I've rearranged them slightly to group the fragments into even more coherent whole. I've also added few missing fragments I was aware of.

    'Life' section contains 33 fragments related to Metrodorus' life. They are arranged more or less chronologically and cover his entire life from birth to death. This section shows Metrodorus' character, his family relations, position in the Garden and relation to fellow philosophers.

    'Works' section contains 67 fragments related to Metrodorus' philosophy. 52 of these contain highlighted sections with Metrodorus' direct quotes and paraphrases of his words.

    Cassius : If you find this PDF worthwhile, please add it to the 'Files' section.
    Everyone else: If you find missing translations, missing fragments or any errors, please let me know and I'll make sure this document is updated.

    I apologise for the length of this post and thank you if you kept reading. Now, please enjoy 'The Life and Works of Metrodorus of Lampsacus'. It will give you a glimpse of a life of Epicurus' most beloved friend and a co-founder of Epicurean Garden.


    Metrodorus_v1.0.0.pdf

    Here is one of the many useful quotes here that we need to be able to find very often. Lately it seems like every mention of Epicurus is accompanied by the assertion that he lived on bread and water (they like to throw in ....and a little cheese) when in truth nothing could be further from the truth or make less sense for Epicurus to have done. What does make sense, here as Seneca says, is that at intervals Epicurus would test his ability to remain happy while eating little, much as we might train through exercises of any sort to be at the top of our games in anything we do.


    SENECA, Epist. ad Luc, 18, 9 [11]

    Even Epicurus, the teacher of pleasure, used to observe stated intervals, during which he satisfied his hunger in niggardly fashion; he wished to see whether he thereby fell short of full and complete happiness, and, if so, by what amount he fell short, and whether this amount was worth purchasing at the price of great effort. At any rate, he makes such a statement in the well known letter written to Polyaenus in the archonship of Charinus. Indeed, he boasts that he himself lived on less than a penny, but that Metrodorus, whose progress was not yet so great, needed a whole penny.

    Tau Phi I have a question here - is this "dehorting" a typo?

    PLUTARCH, Against Colotes, 34, 1127 d [5]
    If those who abolish laws, governments, and polices of men subvert
    and destroy human life, and if Metrodorus and Epicurus do this, by
    dehorting and withdrawing their friends from concerning themselves
    in public affairs, by hating those who intermeddle in them, by reviling
    the first most wise lawgivers, and by advising contempt of the laws
    provided there is no fear and danger of the whip punishment.

    So this is from Metrodorus and not Epicurus himself? Seems to me I hear this attributed to Epicurus so if it is not that is a misunderstanding that needs correcting.


    TO PYTHOCLES:
    Sent. Vat. LI (= Pap. Berol. 16369, col. II) [20]
    You tell me that the stimulus of the flesh makes you too prone to the pleasures of love. Provided that you do not break the laws or good customs and do not distress any of your neighbours or do harm to your body or squander your pittance, you may indulge your inclination as you please. Yet it is impossible not to come up against one or other of these barriers: for the pleasures of love never profited a man and he is lucky if they do him no harm.

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