À l’extérieur de la citadelle : le monde d’Épictète (Entretiens, livre III)

Abstract

This paper proposes to reconstruct the historical context of Discourses, Book 3, by analysing the information relating to Epictetus’ school in Nicopolis, to the listeners and to the moral and social significance of the teaching, then more broadly to the social and intellectual relations of the Stoic philosopher, and to his positioning in relation to other contemporary Greek and Roman intellectuals. The identifications of the named characters are discussed, and new arguments are brought forward in favour of identifying an Apollonius mentioned in Discourses, 3, 12, 17 with the Neopythagorean philosopher from the town of Tyana.

Keywords

• Epictetus
• Nicopolis
• Rome
• school
• auditors
• elite