Kleanthes - Kleanthes (English spelling)

A philosopher of the Stoic school of ancient Greece. Born in Assos in Asia Minor. He succeeded Zeno as the second head of the Stoa school. Due to poverty, he studied philosophy during the day and earned a living by drawing water from the gardens at night. He was a man of his word, and followed the same teachings for a long time. His progress in natural science was slow, and he was mocked by his classmates as a donkey, but he replied, "I am sure that I am the only one who can carry Zeno's burden." In his old age, he was ordered by his dentist to fast, but even after he recovered, he continued to fast, saying, "I have already reached the end of the road," and died. His students included his successor Chrysippus and Macedonian King Antigonus II. He wrote the "Hymne à Zeus."

[Yoshihide Tanaka January 20, 2015]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

古代ギリシアのストア学派の哲学者。小アジアのアッソスの生まれ。ゼノンの後を継いでストア第2代の学頭となった。貧困のため、昼間は哲学を学び、夜間は庭園の水くみをして暮らしをたてたという。言行一致の人で、同じ教説を長く守った。自然学では進歩が遅く学友からロバと嘲(あざ)けられたが、「確かにゼノンの荷を背負って行けるのは私だけだろうよ」と答えた。年老いて歯医者に絶食を命ぜられたが、治癒したのちも「私はすでに道の果てにきている」と食を断ち続けて死んだ。弟子は、彼の後継者クリシッポス、マケドニア王アンティゴノス2世など。著述として『ゼウスの賛歌』がある。

［田中享英　2015年1月20日］

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