Background
His father"s name was Athenaeus or Timocrates, his mother"s Sande.
His father"s name was Athenaeus or Timocrates, his mother"s Sande.
Metrodorus was a native of Lampsacus on the Hellespont. Metrodorus on the other hand soon became the most distinguished of the disciples of Epicurus, with whom he lived on terms of the closest friendship, and whom he later followed to Athens, never having left him since he became acquainted with him, except for six months on one occasion, when he paid a visit to his home. He died in 278/7 British Columbia, in the 53rd year of his age, seven years before Epicurus, who would have appointed him his successor had he survived him.
In a letter also which he wrote upon his death-bed, Epicurus commended the children to the care of Idomeneus, who had married Batis, the sister of Metrodorus.
The 20th of each month was kept by the disciples of Epicurus as a festive day in honour of their master and Metrodorus. Leontion is spoken of as the wife or mistress of Metrodorus.
The philosophy of Metrodorus appears to have been of a more sensual kind than that of Epicurus. Perfect happiness, according to Cicero"s account, he made to consist in having a well-constituted body, and knowing that it would always remain southern
According to Seneca, Epicurus placed Metrodorus among those who acquire assistance in working their way towards truth.
Diogenes Laërtius lists the following works by Metrodorus:
Πρὸς τοὺς ἰατρούς, τρία – Against the Physicians (3 volumes)
Περὶ αἰσθήσεων – On Sensations
Πρὸς Τιμοκράτην – Against Timocrates
Περὶ μεγαλοψυχίας – On Magnanimity
Περὶ τῆς Ἐπικούρου ἀρρωστίας – On Epicurus"s Weak Health
Πρὸς τοὺς διαλεκτικούς – Against the Dialecticians
Περὶ τῆς ἐπὶ σοφίαν πορείας – On the Way to Wisdom
Περὶ τῆς μεταβολῆς – On Change
Περὶ πλούτου – On Wealth
Πρὸς Δημόκριτον – Against Democritus
Περὶ εὐγενείας – On Noble Birth
Metrodorus also wrote Against the Euthyphro, and Against the Gorgias of Plato. Small fragments of his work On Wealth, were found among the charred remains at the Villa of the Papyri at Herculaneum. Philodemus made use of this work in his own works On Wealth, and On Household Economics.
Philodemus cites Metrodorus as the author of the view that Cynic poverty was to be rejected in favour of a more affluent way of life, although wealth in no way contributes to happiness.
Πρὸς τοὺς σοφιστάς, ἐννέα – Against the Sophists (9 volumes).