Stoic School - Zeno, Cleant, Chrysip

Main Representatives: The founder of the Stoic School is Zeno. He was born around 334 in the half-Greek, semi-feminine town of Kition, on the island of Cyprus. He came from a merchant family and initially traded himself, but in a shipwreck he lost his state of affairs and found comfort in the philosophy that so shook him that he later said that when he lost - in fact he won. Intrigued by Xenophon's memories of Socrates, he seized to explore a number of Socratic teachings: he was with the cynical Kratess, then with Stilpon, and finally with the platonic followers of Xenocrates and Polemon.

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About 300 years ago, he founded his own school in Athens, the supporters of which were initially called "seniors", but then called stoics because they gathered in the famous painting gallery, which was on the northwest corner of the Athens market. She served for companionship meetings and for reading reports. It was painted inside with patriotic paintings by well-known artists such as Polygon, Minon and others. From there it also received its name "colorful gallery". Zenon was distinguished by his noble character, especially in his modesty, self-control and sobriety, so the Athenians did lead him as an example and teach his children to be "abstained as Zeno." In old age, when some disabilities grieved him, he ended his own life, remaining faithful to the basic stoic view that life should be terminated voluntarily if it is already judged to be unhappy and useless. He died about 262 years. Zeno wrote ethical writings, but we have left only separate fragments.

Zeno's Receiver was Clyant of Troad, born in 304. He was distinguished by extraordinarily strong will, strict morality, modesty and abstinence. He made his livelihood with a black job at night so he could listen to Zeno during the day. He also put an end to his life when he was 71 years old. / in 233 / And of his writings we have left only separate fragments.
Unconditionally the most influential among the first founders of Stoicism is Chrysippus of City Salts in Cilicia. They call him "the second founder of Stoicism". He was born around 281 and lived until 208. An overwhelming and deep philosophical writer and polemist, more than 700 writings are attributed to him, in which Stoic teachings were not only exposed but also critically opposed to all the philosophical teachings of the time. The three authors mentioned are representatives of so-called ancient Stoicism. After him comes the average Stoicism. Its representatives are two inhabitants of the island of Rhodes - Panetheus and Poseidonius. Panetheus was born around 180 BC. He soon settled in Rome where he was a friend of the most influential personalities, such as Scipio African, so he was primarily responsible for the transfer of Stoicism to Rome. Particularly influential, however, was Poseidonius, born in Syria, but he studied in Rhodes, and is therefore known as the "Rhodesian". He lived from about 135 to 51 BC He took great trips in Spain, Gaul, Liguria, Sicily and the North Africa.