The Life of Eudoxus

I. Eudoxus was the son of Æschines, and a native of Cnidus. He was an astronomer, a geometrician, a physician, and a lawgiver. In geometry he was a pupil of Archytas, and in medicine of Philistion, the Sicilian, as Callimachus relates in his Tablets; and Sotion, in his Successions, asserts that he was likewise a pupil of Plato; for that, when he was twenty-three years of age, and in very narrow circumstances, he came to Athens with Theomedon the physician, by whom he was chiefly supported, being attracted by the reputation of the Socratic school. Some say that his attachment to Theomedon was cemented by nearer ties. And when he had arrived at Piræus, he went up to the city every day, and when he had heard the Sophists lecture he returned. And having spent two months there, he returned home again; and being again aided by the contributions of his friends, he set sail for Egypt, with Chrysippus the physician, bearing letters of introduction from Agesilaus to Nectanabis, and that he recommended him to the priests.

I. Eudoxus was the son of Æschines and a native of Cnidus. He was an astronomer, a geometer, a physician, and a lawgiver. He studied geometry under Archytas and medicine under Philistion, the Sicilian, as Callimachus relates in his Tablets. Sotion asserts in his Successions that Eudoxus was also a pupil of Plato. At twenty-three, Eudoxus was very poor and came to Athens with Theomedon the physician. He was drawn there by the reputation of the Socratic school, and Theomedon was his chief source of support. Some say that Eudoxus and Theomedon were also bound by closer ties. After arriving at Piræus, Eudoxus went up to the city each day. He listened to the Sophists lecture and then returned to Piræus. After two months, he returned home. Once again helped by contributions from his friends, he sailed for Egypt with Chrysippus the physician. He carried letters of introduction from Agesilaus to Nectanabis, who recommended him to the priests.

II. And having remained there a year and four months, he shaved his eyebrows after the manner of the Egyptian priests, and composed, as it is said, the treatise called the Octaeteris. From thence he went to Cyzicus, and to the Propontis, in both of which places he lived as a Sophist; he also went to the court of Mausolus. And then, in this manner, he returned again to Athens, having a great many disciples with him, for the sake, as some say, of annoying Plato, because he had originally discarded him from his school. Some say, that when Plato gave an entertainment on one occasion, Eudoxus, as the guests were very numerous, introduced the fashion of sitting in a semicircle.

II. After staying there for a year and four months, he shaved his eyebrows like the Egyptian priests. He is also said to have written the treatise called the Octaeteris. From there he went to Cyzicus and the Propontis, where he lived as a Sophist. He also went to the court of Mausolus. He then returned to Athens with many disciples. Some say he brought them to annoy Plato, because Plato had earlier dismissed him from his school. Some say that Plato once held a gathering with many guests, and Eudoxus introduced the custom of sitting in a semicircle.

Nicomachus, the son of Aristotle, affirms that he used to say, that pleasure was the good.

Nicomachus, Aristotle's son, says that he used to say pleasure was the good.

III. He was received in his own country with great honours, as the decree that was passed respecting him shows. He was also accounted very illustrious among the Greeks, having given laws to his own fellow citizens, as Hermippus tells us in the fourth book of his account of the Seven Wise Men; and having also written treatises on Astronomy and Geometry, and several other considerable works.

III. He was received with great honors in his own country, as the decree passed in his honor shows. He was also highly regarded among the Greeks because he had given laws to his fellow citizens. Hermippus tells us this in the fourth book of his account of the Seven Wise Men. He had also written treatises on astronomy and geometry, as well as several other significant works.

He had three daughters, Actis, Philtis, and Delphis. And Eratosthenes asserts, in his books addressed to Baton, that he also composed dialogues entitled Dialogues of Dogs; others say that these were written by some Egyptians, in their own language, and that Eudoxus translated them, and published them in Greece. One of his pupils was Chrysippus, of Cnidos, son of Erineus, who learnt of him all that he knew about the Gods, and the world, and the heavenly bodies; and who learnt medicine from Philistion the Sicilian. He also left some very admirable Reminiscences.

He had three daughters: Actis, Philtis, and Delphis. In his books addressed to Baton, Eratosthenes says that he also wrote works called Dialogues of Dogs. Others say that some Egyptians wrote them in their own language, and that Eudoxus translated and published them in Greece. One of his pupils was Chrysippus of Cnidos, the son of Erineus. Chrysippus learned from him all he knew about the gods, the world, and the heavenly bodies. He learned medicine from Philistion the Sicilian. He also left some very admirable Reminiscences.

IV. He had a son of the name of Aristagoras, who was the teacher of Chrysippus, the son of Aëthlius; he was the author of a work on Remedies for the Eyes, as speculations on natural philosophy had come very much under his notice.

IV. He had a son named Aristagoras, who taught Chrysippus, the son of Aëthlius. He wrote a work on Remedies for the Eyes, as theories about natural philosophy had often come to his attention.

V. There were three people of the name of Eudoxus. The first, this man of whom we are speaking; the second, a Rhodian, who wrote histories; the third, a Siciliot, a son of Agathocles, a comic poet, who gained three victories at the Dionysia in the city, and five at the Lenæa,¹¹⁹ as Apollodorus tells us in his Chronicles. We also find another, who was a physician of Cnidos, who is mentioned by this Eudoxus, in his Circuit of the World, where he says that he used to warn people to keep constantly exercising their limbs in every kind of exercise, and their senses too.

V. There were three people named Eudoxus. The first is the man we are discussing. The second was a Rhodian who wrote histories. The third was a Siciliot, a son of Agathocles, and a comic poet. He won three victories at the Dionysia in the city and five at the Lenæa,¹¹⁹ according to Apollodorus in his Chronicles. We also find another Eudoxus, a physician from Cnidos. The Eudoxus we are discussing mentions him in his Circuit of the World. He says that the physician used to urge people to exercise their limbs constantly in every kind of exercise, and their senses too.

VI. The same author says, that the Cnidean Eudoxus flourished about the hundred and third olympiad; and that he was the inventor of the theory of crooked lines. And he died in his fifty-third year. But when he was in Egypt with Conuphis, of Heliopolis, Apis licked his garment; and so the priests said that he would be short-lived, but very illustrious, as it is reported by Phavorinus in his Commentaries. And we have written an epigram on him, that runs thus:—

VI. The same author says that Eudoxus of Cnidus flourished around the 103rd Olympiad. He also says that Eudoxus invented the theory of crooked lines. Eudoxus died in his 53rd year. But while he was in Egypt with Conuphis of Heliopolis, Apis licked his garment. The priests therefore said that he would have a short life but would be very famous. Phavorinus reports this in his Commentaries. We have written an epigram about Eudoxus that goes as follows:

And instead of Eudoxus, they used to call him Endoxus,¹²⁰ on account of the brilliancy of his reputation. And since we have gone through the illustrious Pythagoreans, we must now speak of the Promiscuous philosophers, as they call them. And we will first of all speak of Heraclitus.

Instead of Eudoxus, people called him Endoxus,¹²⁰ because of his brilliant reputation. Now that we have covered the distinguished Pythagoreans, we must turn to the so-called Promiscuous philosophers. We will begin with Heraclitus.