Themista of

Lampsacus Lampsacus (; grc, Λάμψακος, translit=Lampsakos) was an ancient Greek city strategically located on the eastern side of the Hellespont in the northern Troad. An inhabitant of Lampsacus was called a Lampsacene. The name has been transmitt ...

( el, Θεμίστη), the wife of Leonteus, was a student of

Epicurus Epicurus (; grc-gre, Ἐπίκουρος ; 341–270 BC) was an ancient Greek philosopher and sage who founded Epicureanism, a highly influential school of philosophy. He was born on the Greek island of Samos to Athenian parents. Influenced ...

, early in the 3rd century BC. Epicurus' school was unusual in the 3rd century, in that it allowed women to attend, and we also hear of

Leontion Leontion ( la, Leontium, el, Λεόντιον; fl. 300 BC) was a Greek Epicurean philosopher. Biography Leontion was a pupil of Epicurus and his philosophy. She was the companion of Metrodorus of Lampsacus. The information we have about her ...

attending Epicurus' school around the same time.

Cicero Marcus Tullius Cicero ( ; ; 3 January 106 BC – 7 December 43 BC) was a Roman statesman, lawyer, scholar, philosopher, and academic skeptic, who tried to uphold optimate principles during the political crises that led to the estab ...

ridicules Epicurus for writing "countless volumes in praise of Themista," instead of more worthy men such as

Miltiades Miltiades (; grc-gre, Μιλτιάδης; c. 550 – 489 BC), also known as Miltiades the Younger, was a Greek Athenian citizen known mostly for his role in the Battle of Marathon, as well as for his downfall afterwards. He was the son of Cimon C ...

Themistocles Themistocles (; grc-gre, Θεμιστοκλῆς; c. 524–459 BC) was an Athenian politician and general. He was one of a new breed of non-aristocratic politicians who rose to prominence in the early years of the Athenian democracy. A ...

Epaminondas Epaminondas (; grc-gre, Ἐπαμεινώνδας; 419/411–362 BC) was a Greek general of Thebes and statesman of the 4th century BC who transformed the Ancient Greek city-state, leading it out of Spartan subjugation into a pre-eminent posit ...

. Themista and Leonteus named their son Epicurus.Diogenes Laertius, x. 26

Notes

References

*Diogenes Laertius, 10. 5, 25, 26 *Lactantius, ''Divine Institutes'', 3. 25. 15 *Clement of Alexandria, ''Stromata'', 4. 121. 4 *Cicero, ''In Pisonem'', 26. 63; ''De Finibus'', 2. 21. 68 http://ldysinger.stjohnsem.edu/@texts/0215_hippolytus/x-hippolytusBW.jpg {{DEFAULTSORT:Themista Of Lampsacus Hellenistic-era philosophers Ancient Greek women philosophers Epicurean philosophers People from Lampsacus 3rd-century BC Greek people 3rd-century BC philosophers Year of birth unknown 3rd-century BC deaths 3rd-century BC Greek women