Zeno Of Citium

By Miguel Santiago

Zeno of Citium (334–262 BC) was a Greek philosopher and the founder of the philosophical school known as Stoicism. Born in Citium, a city on the island of Cyprus, Zeno studied philosophy in Athens under the guidance of Crates of Thebes. Inspired by the teachings of Socrates, Zeno developed his philosophical system that would profoundly influence Hellenistic and Roman thought.

Zeno’s philosophy, later known as Stoicism, emphasised the pursuit of virtue and inner peace through the acceptance of one’s fate, the cultivation of reason, and the practice of self-control. The Stoics believed that individuals should live by nature and accept life’s events as part of a larger cosmic order. They advocated for a life of discipline, moderation, and the pursuit of wisdom.

Zeno himself lived a simple and ascetic life, embodying the principles he taught. He would gather with his students in the Stoa Poikile, a painted colonnade in Athens, which gave rise to the name of his philosophical school. He taught and wrote extensively, leaving behind a vast body of work; unfortunately, most of his original writings have been lost to history.

Stoicism, emphasising personal ethics and tranquillity in the face of adversity, gained popularity throughout ancient Greece and Rome. Zeno’s ideas influenced numerous subsequent philosophers, including the Roman statesman Seneca, the emperor Marcus Aurelius, and the playwright Epictetus.