believed that the Tanais (Don) river originated in a sea of unknown extent. He attributed
the cause of the great earthquake and flood that destroyed Helike ̄ and Boura in Achaia in
373 to a comet seen before the earthquake, which split into two planets.
Ed.: FrGrHist 70.
W.A. Heidel, The Frame of the Early Greek Maps (1937) 16–17; Chr. van Paassen, The Classical Tradition of
Geography (1957) 246–253; G.L. Barber, The Historian Ephorus (1985); G. Schepens, “The Phoenicians
in Ephorus’ Universal History,” in Studia Phoenicia 5 (1987) 315–330.
Philip Kaplan
E- ⇒ E-
Epicurus of Samos (310 – 270 BCE)
- Life and Writings. Epicurus (Epikouros) was
an Athenian citizen born on the island of Samos. He
founded the Epicurean school, called the Garden
(ke ̄pos), in Athens around 307 BCE, having taught
previously at Mutile ̄ne ̄ on Lesbos and at Lampsakos.
Epicurus developed the atomic theory of L
and D (which he had studied with the
atomist N) and wrote prolifically: 300
books are recorded, most lost. Extant works include
three “epitomes” discussing physics (Letter to Herodo-
tus), ethics (Letter to Menoeceus), and meteorology and
astronomy (Letter to Pythocles). In addition, there are
two collections of short sayings (the Principal Doctrines
and Vatican Sayings), and fragments of other works,
most notably his major work in 37 books, On Nature.
2. Physics. In his physics, Epicurus adapted
earlier atomism to meet the criticisms of A-
and others. He taught that there exist
indestructible atoms and the void (empty space), and
that all other objects in the world are compound
bodies made up of atoms moving in the void. The
universe is infinite in all directions, and there are an
infinite number of variously shaped atoms moving
constantly through empty space. He claimed that while the number of atoms in the universe
was infinite, the sizes and shapes they could take were not. He denied that individual atoms
could ever be so large as to be visible to the naked eye. He posited that there are three types
of atomic movement: (1) a natural motion downward caused by the weight of the atom
(How Epicurus defined the direction “down” in an infinite void is not fully understood); (2)
forced motion in all directions caused by collisions with other atoms, and (3) a minimal,
completely random motion of the atom he called the “swerve” (Greek parenklisis; Latin
clinamen). He posited the random swerve in his physics in order to explain how atoms, falling
naturally downward at the same high speed, can cross each other’s path and collide. At
times atoms move about separately, but at other times they come together to create different
worlds comprised of various compounds. Even in compound bodies, however, atoms are in
Epicurus © Roma, Musei Capitolini, Archivo Fotografico dei Musei Capitolini
EPICURUS OF SAMOS