Colotes (in Greek Koλωτης; lived 3rd century BC), of Lampsacus, was a hearer of Epicurus, and one of the most famous of his disciples. He wrote a work to prove, That it is impossible even to live according to the doctrines of the other philosophers (oτι κατα τα των αλλων φιλoσoφων δoγματα oυδε ζην εστι). It was de­dicated to king Ptolemy Philopator. In refutation of it Plutarch wrote two works, a dialogue, to prove, That it is impossible even to live pleasantly according to Epicurus, and a work entitled Against Colotes.¹ 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 Koλωταρας and Koλωταριoς. 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 of a philosopher to use fables in his teaching, a notion which Cicero opposes.² Some fragments of another work of Colotes, against the Lysis of Plato, have been discovered at Herculaneum. (4th century BC - 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC - other centuries) (2nd millennium BC - 1st millennium BC - 1st millennium AD) Events The first two Punic Wars between Carthage and Rome over dominance in western Mediterranean Rome conquers Spain Great Wall of China begun Indian traders regularly visited Arabia Scythians occupy... Lampsacus was an ancient Greek city strategically located on the eastern side of the Hellespont in the northern Troad. ... Epicurus (Epikouros or Eπίκουρος in Greek) (born Samos 341 BC–died Athens, 270 BC) was an Ancient Greek philosopher who was the founder of Epicureanism, one of the most popular schools of Hellenistic Philosophy. ... Under the reign of Ptolemy IV Philopator (reigned 221-204 BC), son of Ptolemy III and Berenice II of Egypt, the decline of the Ptolemaic kingdom began. ... Mestrius Plutarch (c. ... Socrates This article is about the ancient Greek philosopher, for all other uses see: Socrates (disambiguation) Socrates (June 4, ca. ... Marcus Tullius Cicero (January 3, 106 BC – December 7, 43 BC) was an orator and statesman of Ancient Rome, and is generally considered the greatest Latin prose stylist. ... Lysis is one of the socratic dialogues written by Plato and discusses the nature of friendship. ... Statue of a philosopher, presumably Plato, in Delphi. ... Herculaneum (modern Italian Ercolano) was an ancient Roman town of the Italian region of Campania. ...

References

• Plutarch, Essays and Miscellanies
• Smith, William; Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, "Colotes", Boston, (1867)

Sir William Smith (1813 - 1893), English lexicographer, was born at Enfield in 1813 of Nonconformist parents. ... Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology is a encyclopedia/biographical dictionary. ... Alternative meanings: Boston (disambiguation) The 18th-century Old State House in Boston is surrounded by tall buildings of the 19th and 20th centuries. ...

Notes