English: "Portraits of Greek Philosophers

The influence of Hellenistic Greek philosophy in the Roman world is reflected in the Roman practice of displaying portraits of philosophers, copying Greek originals, in both public and private contexts. The heads of Antisthenes and Epikouros shown here were tound near the Via Appia, south of Rome. They were part of a larger set that may have come perhaps came from the library or garden court of a private villa. Together with the head of Chrysippos they portray a generic type of human intelligence, one that sought knowledge through a lte of temperance, endurance and moral incorruptabilty.

From left to right Sokrates (469-399 BC) Roman copy of a lost Greek original of about 380-360 BC. Sokrates was the intellectual father of Hellenistic philosophy. His self-denying pursuit of true knowledge brought him into conflict with the piety laws of his native Athens, where his eventual prosecution led to enforced suicide. His physical appearance, was famously unattractive. belying the inner beauty of his spirit. GR 1973.3-27.16 (Sculpture 1837)

Antisthenes (c. 450-370 BC), founder of the Cynic school of philosophy. Roman copy of a lost Greek original of the late third or second century be. From near the Via Appia, Kome GR 1873.8-20.724 (Sculpture 1838)

Chrysippos (c. 281/77 - 208/4 BC), Roman copy of a lost Greek original of the late third or second century BC. Chrysippos developed the Stoic school of philosophy tounded in Athens around 280 BC by Leno. Bequeathed by Richard Payne Knight GR 1824.2-1.2 (Sculpture 1846)

Epikouros (342/1 - 271/0 BC), founder of the Epicurean school Roman copy of a lost Greek original of the late third or second century BC. From near the Via Appia, Kome

GR 1873.8-20.726 (Sculpture 1843)"