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Epicurus [Έπίκουρος] (341 BCE - 270 BCE), was an ancient Greek philosopher, the founder of Epicureanism, one of the most popular schools of thought in Hellenistic Philosophy.

Epicurus was born on the Greek island of Samos to Athenian parents. He was one of four brothers. Tradition has it that he became interested in philosophy at age 14. At the age of 20, he was obliged to report to Athens for two years of military service. Afterwards he rejoined his family, who were compelled to abandon Samos and resettle in the Ionian city of Colophon. Epicurus continued to receive education from the likes of Pamphilus, a Platonist, and Nausiphanes, a Democritean. Despite this exposure, Epicurus would later insist that he was entirely self-taught. (more...)

Of all things which wisdom provides to make life entirely happy, much the greatest is the possession of friendship.

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Love never dies of starvation, but often of indigestion.

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Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; but remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.

		The Oinoanda Inscription (fragment 12 pictured) was an inscribed limestone wall conspicuously located in an open marketplace generally referred to as the "Esplanade" in the ancient city of Oinoanda. The inscription, commissioned by Diogenes of Oinoanda, proclaimed the wisdom of Epicurus, then deceased for five centuries. This unique text, rediscovered in the late nineteenth century, has attracted many modern readers. The wall itself, however, has long been demolished. Its blocks were used for building houses, paving streets, etc. They were discovered one by one. Photo credit: Yannis Avramides