Polyaenus
historical figure · 3 works · 3 mentions · 3 anchored passages
in the texts
Lucullus
Mathematician who converted to Epicureanism and thereafter held that all of geometry, which he once knew, was false.
What of Polyaenus, who is said to have been a great mathematician, who afterward, assenting to Epicurus, believed the whole of geometry to be false — did he forget even those things which he knew?
On Moral Ends
Friend of Epicurus, a geometer, whom Epicurus reportedly persuaded away from geometry.
Nor is it the part of a natural philosopher to believe that there is any smallest thing — which assuredly he would never have supposed, had he chosen to learn geometry from his friend Polyaenus rather than to unteach the man himself.
Letters to Lucilius
Disciple of Epicurus made great by living with him rather than merely hearing him.
It was not the school of Epicurus but living with him that made great men of Metrodorus and Hermarchus and Polyaenus.