Apollodorus the Epicurean

Apollodorus (Greek: Ἀπολλόδωρος; fl. 2nd century BC) was an Epicurean philosopher, and head of the Epicurean school in Athens.

According to Diogenes Laërtius, he was surnamed Tyrant of the Garden (Greek: Κηποτύραννος) from his exercising a kind of tyranny or supremacy in the garden or school of Epicurus.[1] He was the teacher of Zeno of Sidon,[1] who succeeded him as the head of the school, about 100 BC. He is said to have written upwards of 400 books,[1] but they have all perished.

Only two works are mentioned by title. One was called a Life of Epicurus.[2] He also wrote a Collection of Doctrines, in which he asserted that Epicurus had written a greater amount of original writing than the Stoic Chrysippus, because although Chrysippus had written 700 books, they were filled with quotations from other authors.[3]

Notes

1. Diogenes Laërtius, x. 26
2. Diogenes Laërtius, x. 2
3. Diogenes Laërtius, vii. 180

References

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William, ed. (1870). "Apollodorus". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.