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How did Epicureanism spread from Greece to Rome?
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Epicureanism
Epicurus, bronze bust from a Greek original, c. 280ā270 bce; in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Naples.
Epicureanism was introduced to Rome during the 2nd century BCE. Its spread was facilitated by several key figures and methods:1
- Early Proponents: The first individual to disseminate Epicurean doctrines in Latin prose was a writer named Amafinius.1
- Teachers and Scholars: During the 1st century BCE, prominent Epicurean teachers were active in Rome, including Phaedrus, who was in the city around 90 BCE and served as a teacher to Cicero. Additionally, Philodemus of Gadara, a noted epigram writer, became a significant figure whose library was later preserved at Herculaneum.1
- Literary Influence: The poet Lucretius played a crucial role in popularizing the philosophy through his didactic poem, De rerum natura (On the Nature of Things), which provided a comprehensive and precise exposition of Epicurusās physical theories.21
By the time of Cicero, Epicureanism had become a fashionable philosophy in Rome, attracting a very large number of adherents.1