A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

2. Of ELEA (Velia), son of Teleutagoras, and favourite disciple of Parmenides. He was with the latter in Athens about the 80th Olympiad, when Socrates was still very young. At this time he was 40 years old, and consequently was born about the 70th Olympiad (D. L. 9.28 ; Plut. Soph. p. 217, Parm. p. 127; comp. Theaet. p. 183). With this chronology we can easily reconcile the statements which assign, as the period when he flourished, the 78th Olympiad (Suid. s. v.), the 79th (D. L. 9.29), or the 80th (Euseb. Chron.). The statements that he unfolded his doctrines to men like Pericles and Callias for the price of 100 minae (Plat. Alcib. i. p. 119; Olympiod. in Alcib. p. 140, Kreuzer; Plut. Vit. Pericl. 100.4) indicate a rather long residence in Athens. Of a well-grown and graceful person (εὐμήκης καὶ χαριεὶς ἰδεῖν), Zenon was the favourite (παιδικὰ) of Parmenides, says Plato (Parm. p. 127; comp. D. L. 9.25), where he doubtless intends the word to be taken in the honourable sense (comp. Schol. in Plat. l.c.), not, as his traducers thought (Athen. 11.505), in a signification which must have redounded to his disgrace in the eyes of those whom he held in such high esteem. The noblest spiritual love of Zenon for his teacher is shown in the way in which he devoted his whole energy to the defence of the doctrines of Parmenides. He is also said to have taken part in the law-making (Speusippus in D. L. 9.23) or law-mending (Strabo 6.1) of Parmenides, to the maintenance of which the citizens of Elea had pledged themselves every year by an oath (Plut. ad v. Col. p. 1126 ; Strabo, l.c.), and his love of legitimate freedom is shown by the courage with which he exposed his life in order to deliver his native country from a tyrant. (Plut. ad v. Col. p. 1126, de Stoic. Repugn. p. 105, de Garrulit. p. 505; comp. D. L. 9.26, &c.; Diodor. Exc. p. 557, Wessel.) Whether he perished in the attempt, or survived the fall of the tyrant, is a point on which the authorities vary. They also state the name of the tyrant differently.

[Ch. A. B.]