A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

1314 ZENON. ZENON.
reference to an invitation of the king, which Zenon p5o'Lv jiov); on impulse, on the nature of man
declined (Diog. La'rt. vii. 7, &c.), is unmistake- (7repl opjps 7repl avOpcdrouv (paoews, comp. 87);
ably the invention of a later rhetorician (see Aldo- on the affections (7repl ra0ev, comp. 110); on the
brandinus on the above passage), it is well esta- fitting (Crep'roi KaOcaOKo'Vos); on law (repe yVblished that a close intimacy subsisted between ycov), besides the Politeia mentioned above; on
them, kept up through Persaeus and Philonides, Grecian education (Wrepl'EXA7VOKCs 7rarteias);
disciples of the philosopher, and companions of the the art of love (EPWoLKgI 7EXye7). Of writings reking (Ibid. 9. 6, 13-15, 36; Arrian, Epict. iii. 13; lating to physics we find mentioned one on the
Simplic. in Epsctet. Enchir. c. 51; Aelian, V. H. ix. universe (7repl'roi'Aov, comp. 142, 43, 45);
26). Zenon is also said to have attracted the on essence (Trepl osbras, 134); on signs (7repi
attention of the Egyptian Ptolemaeus (Diog. Laert. uayeiuov); on the sight (Wrepl'4ec0s). The convii. 24; in Stobaeus, Serm. xxxi. however, with tents of the following seem to have been of a
reference to the same story, ambassadors of Anti- logical kind: on the idea (7rep}'roO X&yov, 39,
gonus are spoken of). Much more honourable, 40); treatises (naprplCai, 134); on verbal exhowever, is the confidence and esteem which the pression (7repi Axeews); Solutions (AvSeLs), and
Athenians showed towards him, stranger as he Refutations (EXe'yXo0). Besides these there are
was; for although the well-known story that they attributed to him works on Poetry (7rep1 rOL'rTKns
deposited the keys of the fortress with him, as the cpodoeews); Homeric Problems (7rpoXnAisceov
most trustworthy man (Diog. Laert. 6), may be a'Opvta9PI K'rdsEre, comp. Diog. Lai'rt. viii. 48); a
later invention, there seems no reason for doubting work entitled ica0ouKcd; Commentaries ('Arothe authenticity of the decree of the people by Iy77e/ooveS'aT'a); and one on the Pythagorean docwhich a golden crown and a public burial in the trines (IlvOauyoplacd).
Cerameicus were awarded to him, because, during The writings of Chrysippus and later Stoics
his long residence in Athens, by his doctrines and seem to have obscured those of Zenon, and even
his life spent in accordance with them, he had the warm adherents of the school seem seldom to
conducted the young men who attached themselves have gone back to the books of the latter, still less
to him along the path of virtue and discretion the authorities yet remaining to us. They give, and
(Diog. Laart. 10, &c., 6, 15). The Athenian citi- often confusedly enough, sketches of the Stoic syszenship, however, he is said to have declined, that tem, but it is only as special occasions present themhe might not become unfaithful to his native land selves that they notice wAhat belongs to the several
(Plut. de Stoicor. repugn. p. 1034, a; comp. Diog. framers of the system, and in what they differed
La'irt. 12), where in return he was highly esteemed from each other, and from the later Stoics. Con(Ibid. 6). For the rest, we have preserved some sequently we can only determine in the general,
not very characteristic traits from his life, in part and often merely by conjecture, how far Zenon
from the works of the elder Stoics, as Persaeus, himself had conducted the doctrine, and still less
Cleanthes, and Chrysippus (Ibid. 1, 15). From how he gradually arrived at the outlines of it. At
them we see that he was of an earnest, if not first he appears to have attached himself to the
gloomy disposition (Ibid. 16, comp. 26; Sidon. Cynics. This is confirmed not only by the aboveApollinaris, Epist. ix. 9); that he loved to with- mentioned authorities, but by the little that has
draw himself from the great crowd, and to walk been preserved out of or respecting his Politeia
about with only two or three (Diog. Lairt. 14); (Diog. Lae'rt. vii. 32, 121, 129; Theodoret. GO.
that he was fond of burying himself in investiga- Af. cur. iii. p. 780; Plutarch in the above-quoted
tions (ibid. 15), had a dislike to prolix and elabo- passages); and it is not unlikely that it was there
rate speeches (ibid. 18, 22; Stob. Serm. xxxiv.), that he gave occasion to the assertion of the later
and was clever and ready at short telling answers. Stoa, that Cynism was the near way to virtue
(Diog. Lairt. 19, &c., 23, &c. ibid. Menag.) (eTnaL Trb, Kuvmrtob o-Irv'oov ear' &pe'rTv 6&5,.
We are not able to ascertain with certainty Diog. Laert. 121, ibid. Menag.). In- his treatises
either the year of Zenon's birth, or that of his (as'rpteal) also there must still have been a good
death, and cannot regard as accurate the state- deal of Cynism. (Sext. Emp. adv. Math. xi. 191;
ments that he came to Athens at the age of 22 or Hypot. iii. 245, comp. 205.)
even 30 years, that he pursued his philosophical The need of a foundation and completion of
studies for 20 years, and presided over his school ethic by means of logic and physic, led Zenon to
for 58 years (Diog. Lai'rt. 28), even though we approximate to the Academics, and in some degree
should prefer the statement that he reached the also to Aristotle. The threefold division of phiage of 98 (ibid.), to that of his disciple Persaeus, losophy he.had explained in his treatise on the
according to which he was only 72 years old when Idea, and had anticipated the succession which
he died. He is said to have been still alive in was adopted also by Chrysippus and others,the 130th Olympiad (ibid. 6), and this is certainly Logic, Physic, Ethic (Diog. Lairt. 39, &c.). But
in accordance with the statements which make him he is certainly not the originator of the comprea disciple of Polemon, who became president of the hensive schematism in which we find the logic and
Academic school in 01. 116. 2, and also with what physic of the Stoics treated (Ibid. 84). In his
we are told about his intercourse with Antigonus treatment of logic, he was even behind his predeGonatas, who came to the throne in 01. 124, and cessors (Cic. de Fin. iv. 4). His short and narrow
with Arcesilas (Cic. Acad. i. 9, 13, ii. 24). Of his conclusions needed a more explicit foundation to be
writings for the most part only the titles are able to withstand the objections of the Academics
quoted (Diog. Laert. 4). The enumeration that in particular (Id. de Nat. Deoe. ii. 7). To show
we possess can hardly be complete, yet it shows us the necessity of a scientific treatment of logic, he
to some extent to what objects his investigations urged that the wise man must know how to avoid
were chiefly directed. We have mention of works deception (Id. Acad. ii. 20). Without doubt he reupon the ethic of Crates (Kpd'rrros 7OAKCd), on the ferred our cognitions to impressions, and these to
life spent according to nature (7repl T'oO KaTa' affections of the soul (EiepoeieW'eLS 71S T vXvs,