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

4. A native of Tarsus, the son of Dioscorides, a disciple of Chrysippus, and his successor in the Stoa. (Suid. s.v. D. L. 7.35, comp. 41.) He introduced an important variation into the Stoic system, for he denied the doctrine of the conflagration of the universe, as it is termed (though that is but an inadequate account of the doctrine; comp. ZENON of CCITIUM). This must have involved a considerable modification of the whole physical theory of the Stoics. (Euseb. Praep. Evang. 15.13, 18; Menag. ad Diog. Laert. 7.35.) Fabricius and others improperly distinguish Zenon of Tarsus from Zenon the successor of Chrysippus. Zenon of Tarsus left but few writings. (Diog. Laert. l.c.)