A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

Smith, William

A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. William Smith, LLD, ed. 1890

(Κολώτης), of Lampsacus, a hearer of Epicurus, and one of the most famous of his disciples.

It may be collected from Plutarch, that Colotes was clever, but vain, dogmatical, and intolerant. He made violent attacks upon Socrates, and other great philosophers. He was a great favourite with Epicurus, who used, by way of endearment, to call him Κολωτάρας and Κολωτάριος. It is also related by Plutarch, that Colotes, after hearing Epicurus discourse on the nature of things, fell on his knees before him, and besought him to give him instruction. He held, that it is unworthy of the truthfulness

814
of a philosopher to use fables in his teaching, a notion which Cicero opposes. (De Repub. 6.7, ed. Orelli, ap. Macrob. in Somn. Scip. 1.2.)

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