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

PYRRHON. PYRRHUS. 609
have attached himself closely to Anaxarchus, a tosthenes, comp. c. 64) and expressions (ib. 64),
disciple of the Democritean Metrodorus, and with but also by the way in which Timon expressed
him to have joined the expedition of Alexander himself with respect to the moral (Sext. Emp. aldv.
the Great (Diog. Ladrt. II. cc. ix. 63; Suid. s. v. Mlath. x. 1), and by the respect which the PvrAristocles describes Anaxarchus as his teacher,. c.), rhonians cherished for Socrates (ib. 2; comp. Cic.
and on the expedition to have become acquainted lde Orat. iii. 17). The conjecture is not improbable
with the Magians and the Indian gymnosophists. that Pyrrhon regarded the great Athenians as his
That his sceptical theories originated in his inter- pattern. The statement that the Athenians concourse with them was asserted by Ascanius of ferred upon Pyrrhon the rights of citizenship sounlds
Abdera (a writer with whom we are otherwise un- suspicious on account of the reason which is apacquainted), probably without any reason (Diog. pended, for according to the unanimous testimony
Laert. ix. 61). It is more likely that he derived of the ancients, Python, the disciple of Plato, had
from them his endeavours after imperturbable equa- slain the Thracian Cotus (Diog. Labrt. ix. 65, ib.
nimity, and entire independence of all external Menage); it probably rests upon some gloss.
circumstances, and the resistance of that mobility No books written by Pyrrhon are quoted (comp.
which is said to have been natural to him (ib. 62, Aristocl. 1. c. p. 763. c.), except a poem addressed
63, comp. 66, 68; Timon, ibid. c. 65). It is mani- to Alexander, which was rewarded by the latter in
fest, however, that his biographer Antigonus had so royal a manner (Sext. Emp. adv. Math. i. 282
already invented fables about him. (Diog. Ladrt. Plut. de Alex. Fortzna, i. 10), that the statements
1. c.; Aristocl. ap. Euseb. p. 763; Plut. de Prof: respecting the poverty of the philosopher's mode of
in Virt. c. 9.) A half insane man, such as he de- life are not easily reconcilable with it. We have
picts him, the Eleans assuredly would never have no mention of the year either of'the birth or of the
chosen as high priest (Diog. Labrt. ix. 64; comp. death of Pyrrhon, but only that he reached the age
Hesych. Miles. p. 50, ed. Orell.); and Aeneside- of 90 years (Diog. Lahrt. ix. 62); nor do we learn
mus, to confute such stories, had already maintained how old he was when he took part in Alexander's
that Pyrrhon had indeed in philosophising refrained expedition. But Arcesilas, who in his turn was late
from decision, but that in action he by no means enough to be quoted by Timon, is said to have
blindly abandoned himself to be the sport of cir- been one of his associates (CuILA7lKcrs rI'ipk.sov
cunistances. (Diog. Laiirt. ix. 64.) The young Numen. in Euseb. Praep. Evang. xii. 6). Among
Nausiphanes (probably a later contemporary of the disciples of Pyrrhon, besides those already menEpicurus) Pyrrhon won over, not indeed to his tioned, were also Eurylochus, Philo the Athenian,
doctrine, but to his disposition (8da0eoLs), to which and Hecataenus of Abdera. (Diog. Labrt. ix. 68,
Epicurus also could not refuse a lively recognition. 69; comp. Lucian, Vib. Auct. 27.) The Eleans
(Diog. Labrt. ix. 64.) Pyrrhon's disciple Timon, honoured the memory of their philosophical counwho, in his Python, had detailed long conversations tryman even after his death. Pausanias saw his
which he had with Pyrrhon (Aristocl. 1. c. p. 761; likeness (a bust or statue) in a stoa by the agora of
comp. Diog. Laeirt. ix. 67), extolled with admira- Elis, and a monument dedicated to him outside the
tion his divine repose of soul, his independence of city (vi. 24, ~ 5). [Ch. A. B.]
all the shackles of external relations, and of all de- PYRRHON, artists. Besides the celebrated
ception and sophistical obscurity. He compared philosopher of Elis, who was also distinguished asa
him to the imperturbable sun-god, who hangs aloft painter, there was an Ephesian sculptor, the son of
over the earth (ib. 65, comp. 67; Sext. Emp. adv. Hecatoleos, whose name occurs on an inscription
Alath. i. 305; Aristocl. ap. Euseb. I. c. p. 761, as the maker of a statue of honour, of the Roman
&c.). What progress he had made in laying a age. (Bickh, Corp. Inscr., No. 2987; R. Rochette,
scientific foundation for his scepsis cannot be de- Letire a M. Schorn, p. 395, 2d edit.) [P. S.]
termined with accuracy, but it is probable that PYRRHUS, mythological. [NEOPTOLEMUS.]
Timon, who, as it appears, was more a poet than a PYRRHUS, artists. 1. An architect, of unphilosopher [TIrMON], was indebted to him for the known age, who, with his sons Lacrates and Heressential features of the reasons for doubt which mon, built the treasury of the Epidamnians at
were developed by him. Just as later sceptics saw Olympia. (Paus. vi. 19. ~ 5. s. 8.)
the beginnings of their doctrines in the expressions 2. A statuary, who is mentioned in the list of
of the poets and most ancient philosophers on the Pliny as the maker of bronze statues of Hygia
insufficiency of human knowledge and the uncer- and Minerva. (H. N. xxxiv. 8. s. 19. ~ 20.) Pliny
tainty of life, so Pyrrhon also interpreted lines of tells us nothing more of the artist; but, in the
his favourite poet Homer in the sceptical sense. year 1840, a base was found in the Acropolis at
(Diog. Lairt. ix. 67; comp. Sext. Emp. adv. Math. Athens, bearing the following inscription -
i. 272, 281.) That dogmatic convictions lay at the AOENAIOITEIA0ENAIA ITEITrIEIAI
foundation of the scepticism of Pyrrhon, was main- 1rTPPOE7OIHYENAEENAIO,
tained only by Numenius. (Diog. Labrt. ix. 68.)
Still more groundless, without doubt, is the state- and near it were the remains of another base. It
ment of the Abderite Ascanius, that Pyrrhon can scarcely be doubted that these bases belonged
would recognise neither Beautiful nor Ugly, Right to the statues of Hygieia, the daughter of Asclenor Wrong, and maintained that as nothing is ac- pins, and of Athena surnamed Hygieia, which
cording to truth, so the actions of men are deter- Pausanias mentions (i. 24. ~ 4. s. 5) as among the
mined only by law and custom, (Diog. Lairt. ix. most remarkable works of art in the Acropolis, and
61; comp. Aristocl. ap. Euseb. 1. c. p. 761.) That, as standing in the very place where these bases
on the contrary, he left the validity of moral re- were found; and further, that the statues are the
quirements unassailed, and directed his endeavours same as those referred to by Pliny; and that his
to the production of a moral state of disposition, is Pyrrhus is the same as Pyrrhus the Athenian, who
attested not only by individual, well-authenticated is mentioned in the above inscription as the maker
traits of character (Diog. La'rt. ix. 66, after Era- of the statue of Athena Hygieia, which las deVOL. III. R R