Phaedrus the Epicurean

Phaedrus ( _el. Φαῖδρος) was an Epicurean philosopher, and head of the Epicurean school in Athens from around 75 BC to his death in 70 BC. He was a contemporary of Cicero, who became acquainted with him in his youth at Rome. [Cicero, "Epistulae ad Familiares", xiii. 1. § 2] During his residence in Athens (80 BC) Cicero renewed his acquaintance with him. Phaedrus was at that time an old man, and was a leading figure of the Epicurean school. [Cicero, "Philippicae", v. 5. § 13, "de Natura Deorum", i. 33. § 93, "de Finibus", i. 5. § 16] He was also on terms of friendship with Velleius, whom Cicero introduces as the defender of the Epicurean tenets in the De Natura Deorum ("On the Nature of the Gods)", [Cicero, "de Natura Deorum", i. 21. § 58] and especially with Atticus. [Cicero, "de Finibus", i. 5. § 16, v. 1. § 3, etc.] Cicero especially praises his agreeable manners. He had a son named Lysiadas. Phaedrus was succeeded, by Patro.

Cicero wrote to Atticus requesting Phaedrus' essay "On gods" ( _el. Περὶ ϑεῶν). [Cicero, "Epistulae ad Atticum", xiii. 39] Cicero used this work to aid his composition of the first book of the De Natura Deorum. Not only did he develop his account of Epicurean doctrine using it, but also the account of the doctrines of earlier philosophers.

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