Timeline Of The Epicurean World

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  • Based on information originally put together by Don, this is an effort to "pretty it up" into a Table form which we can reference more easily.

    Approximate DatePerson Or EVentSignificance
    Heraclitus of Ephesus (1235-1295; c. 535 – c. 475 BCE (60))
    Anaxagoras (1270-1342; c.  500 – c.  428 BCE (72))
    Empedocles (1276-1336; c. 494 – c. 434 BCE (60))
    Socrates (1300-1371; c. 470–399 BCE (~71))
    Democritus (1310-1400; c. 460 – c. 370 BCE (~90))
    Plato (1342-1422; 428/427 or 424/423 – 348/347 BCE (~80))
    Aristotle (1386-1448; 384–322 BCE (62))
    Pyrrho (1410-1500; c. 360 – c. 270 BCE (90))
    Epicurus (1429-1500; 341–270 BCE (71))
    Polyaenus of Lampsacus (1430-1485; c. 340 – c. 285 BCE (~55))
    Zeno of Citium (1436-1508; c. 334 – c. 262 BCE (72))
    Metrodorus of Lampsacus (1439-1492; 331/0–278/7 BCE (53))
    Hermarchus (scholarch of the Garden) (1443-1518; c. 325-c. 250 BCE (~75))
    Colotes of Lampsacus (1448-1500; c. 320 – after 268 BCE (~52))
    Polystratus (scholarch of the Garden) (c.1470-1550; d. 218/9 BCE)
    Dionysius of Lamptrai (scholarch of the Garden) (c. 1493-1563; d. 205 BCE)
    Basilides (scholarch of the Garden) (1518-1593; c. 250 – c. 175 BCE (75))
    Chrysippus (1489-1562; c. 279 – c. 206 BCE (~73))
    Apollodorus (scholarch of the Garden) (fl. early 1600s; fl. 2nd century BCE)
    Zeno of Sidon (scholarch of the Garden) (1618-1693; c. 150 – c. 75 BCE (~75))
    Phaedrus (scholarch of the Garden) (1630-1699; 138 – 70/69 BCE (69))
    Patro (scholarch of the Garden) (fl. early 1700s; contemporary of Cicero’s)
    Philodemus (1658-1728; c. 110 – prob. c. 40 or 35 BCE (~70))
    Marcus Tullius Cicero (1662-1725; 106 – 43 BCE (63))
    Julius Caesar (1668-1724; 100 – 15 March 44 BCE (56))
    Titus Lucretius Carus (1669-1713; c. 99 – c. 55 BCE (~44))
    Quintus Horatius Flaccus ("Horace") (1703-1760; 65 – 8 BCE (57))
    Plutarch (1814-1887; 46 – after AD 119 CE (~73))
    Epictetus (1854-1939; 50 – c. 135 CE (~85))
    Diogenes of Oenoanda (wall dated around 1950s (mid-1900s); lived 2nd century CE)
    Marcus Aurelius (1925-1984; 121 – 180 CE (59))
    Lucian of Samosata (1929-1984; c. 125 – after 180 CE (~55))
    Diogenes Laërtius (fl. early-mid 2000s; fl. 1st half of 3rd century CE)
    Athenaeus (fl. late 20th/early 21st century; fl. late 2nd/early 3rd century CE)
    Eusebius (will be born in 2064; AD 260/265 – 339/340)

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Comments

November 4, 2023 at 6:57 PM

Should Lucretius have something mentioning his poem On The Nature of Things in the Significance section? Since we do for Diogenes of Oenoanda for his wall inscription. And probably mentioning how Lucretius's poem is the only (relatively) complete work of Epicurean philosophy from the ancient world.

For Julius Caesar, I'm not sure where I read it but I believe he disregarded the Ides of March warning because it was superstitious. Which would have been odd if he wasn't an Epicurean. Maybe it could be added in the Significance section? Not sure.

Also, Seneca The Younger isn't mentioned at all. Maybe we could say how he quoted Epicurus often and praised him despite not being an Epicurean himself, the same with Marcus Aurelius. Maybe not really significant though. Either way, he should be mentioned.
November 4, 2023 at 7:29 PM

Very good points!

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