Modern Stoics will be aware of the work of the “big three” Stoic philosophers: Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus. They’ll know, too, that Zeno of Citium founded the Stoic school and may even have heard of other prominent figures like Cleanthes, Chrysippus, and Musonius Rufus.
What most aren’t aware of, however, is all the other Stoic philosophers who have contributed to the philosophy’s journey and helped it flourish since it started up around 300 BC.
Here is a list of known Stoic philosophers along with their Wikipedia link and a brief note for each. The list ends with Marcus Aurelius, after whose death we hear little about Stoic philosophers.
List of Stoic Philosophers
| Name | Period | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 3rd Century BC | ||
| Zeno of Citium | (c. 334-262 BC) | Founder of Stoicism in Athens (c. 300 BC) |
| Persaeus | (306-243 BC) | Pupil and friend of Zeno. Only a few fragments of his writings survive. |
| Aratus of Soli | (c. 315-c. 245 BC) | Pupil of Zeno and poet. His major extant work, the poem Phaenomena, survives today. |
| Athenodorus of Soli | (fl. 275 BC) | Pupil of Zeno and brother of Aratus. |
| Aristo of Chios | (c. 310-c. 240 BC) | Associate of Zeno. Introduced the Stoic doctrine of indifferent things according to Diogenes Laertius. |
| Apollophanes of Antioch | (fl. 250 BC) | Stoic philosopher, friend of Aristo of Chios |
| Dionysius of Heraclea | (c. 325-c. 250 BC) | Also known as “the renegade.” Pupil of Zeno who who abandoned Stoicism to become a Cyrenaic. |
| Sphaerus | (c. 285 BC – c. 210 BC) | Studied under Zeno and Cleanthes. Moved to Sparta and Alexandria. |
| Herillus of Carthage | (fl. 250 BC) | Pupil of Zeno, who held that knowledge was the highest good in life |
| Cleanthes | (of Assos) (331-232 BC) | Second leader of the Stoic school |
| Eratosthenes (of Cyrene) | (fl. 225 BC) | Pupil of Aristo. Chief librarian at Alexandria |
| Hermagoras of Amphipolis | (fl. c. 225 BC) | Stoic philosopher and follower of Persaeus of Citium |
| Chrysippus (of Soli) | (c. 280-c. 206 BC) | Third leader of the Stoic school. Wrote 705 books |
| Dioscorides | (fl. 225 BC) | Pupil of Chrysippus. Father of Zeno of Tarsus. |
| Aristocreon | (fl. 210 BC) | Nephew and pupil of Chrysippus |
| 2nd Century BC | ||
| Zeno of Tarsus | (fl. 200 BC) | Pupil of Chrysippus and fourth leader of the Stoic school |
| Crates of Mallus | (fl. 175 BC) | Natural philosopher known for constructing the earliest known globe of the Earth |
| Diogenes of Babylon | (c. 230-c. 150 BC) | Fifth leader of the Stoic school |
| Zenodotus | (fl. 150 BC) | Pupil of Diogenes of Babylon |
| Apollodorus of Seleucia | (fl. 150 BC) | Pupil of Diogenes of Babylon. Promoted the idea of a line of Cynic succession from Socrates to Zeno. |
| Basilides | (fl. c. 150 BC) | Denied the existence of incorporeal entities |
| Antipater of Tarsus | (c. 200-129 BC) | Pupil of Diogenes and sixth leader of the Stoic school |
| Apollodorus of Athens | (fl. 150 BC) | Historian. Pupil of Diogenes and Antipater of Tarsus |
| Archedemus of Tarsus | (fl. 140 BC) | Founded a Stoic school at Babylon. Mentioned by Cicero, Seneca, and Epictetus. |
| Panaetius of Rhodes | (185-109 BC) | Seventh and last undisputed leader of the Stoic school. Influential in introducing Stoic doctrines to Rome. |
| Boethus of Sidon | (fl. 150 BC) | Pupil of Diogenes |
| Polemon of Athens | (fl. 150 BC) | Geographer and follower of Panaetius |
| Gaius Blossius | (fl. 133 BC) | Italian pupil of Antipater of Tarsus, insurgent of in the revolt of Aristonikos. |
| Marcus Vigellius | (fl. 125 BC) | Stoic who was friends with (and lived with) Panaetius |
| Heraclides of Tarsus | (fl. 125 BC) | Friend and pupil of Antipater of Tarsus |
| Dardanus | (c. 160-c. 90 BC) | Pupil of Diogenes of Babylon and Antipater of Tarsus. Leading figure in the Stoic school in Athens |
| Mnesarchus | (c. 160-c. 90 BC) | Pupil of Antipater of Tarsus. Leading figure in the Stoic school in Athens |
| Publius Rutilius Rufus | (158-c. 75 BC) | Statesman, orator and historian. Pupil of Panaetius |
| Stilo | (c. 154-74 BC) | Roman equestrian, grammarian, and scholar |
| Dionysius of Cyrene | (fl. c. 125 BC) | Pupil of Diogenes of Babylon and Antipater of Tarsus. Leading figure in the Stoic school in Athens. |
| Quintus Lucilius Balbus | (fl. c. 125 BC) | Pupil of Panaetius |
| Hecato of Rhodes | (fl. 100 BC) | Pupil of Panaetius, wrote about ethics |
| Diotimus the Stoic | (fl. 100 BC) | Stoic who slandered Epicurus |
| 1st Century BC | ||
| Posidonius (of Apamea) | (c. 135-51 BC) | Pupil of Panaetius. A philosopher, astronomer, and geographer. |
| Crinis | (fl. uncertain) | Stoic who wrote about logic. Mentioned by Diogenes Laertius and Epictetus. |
| Proclus of Mallus | (fl. uncertain) | Stoic philosopher and writer |
| Diodotus the Stoic | (c. 130-59 BC) | Stoic teacher of Cicero who lived in Cicero’s house |
| Athenodoros Cordylion | (c. 130-60 BC) | Librarian at Pergamon, lived with Cato |
| Apollonius of Tyre | (fl. 50 BC) | Stoic philosopher who, according to Diogenes Laertius, wrote a biography of Zeno |
| Cato the Younger | (95-46 BC) | Statesman who opposed Julius Caesar |
| Antipater of Tyre | (c. 100-45 BC) | Friend of Cato. Wrote about practical ethics |
| Porcia Catonis | (c. 70-43 BC) | Female Stoic, daughter of Cato the Younger |
| Apollonides | (fl. 46 BC) | Stoic philosopher whom Cato consulted before committing suicide |
| Jason of Nysa | (fl. 50 BC) | Grandson of Posidonius |
| Athenodoros Cananites | (c. 74 BC-7 AD) | Pupil of Posidonius. Teacher of Augustus |
| Quintus Sextius | (fl. 40 BC) | Set up a school teaching Stoicism mixed with Pythagoreanism. Admired by Seneca. |
| Arius Didymus (of Alexandria) | (fl. 10 BC) | Collected excerpts from earlier Stoic writers. Tutor of Augustus. |
| 1st Century AD | ||
| Attalus | (fl. 25 AD) | Stoic teacher frequently visited by Seneca |
| Lucius Annaeus Seneca | (c. 4 BC-65 AD) | Statesman, philosopher, and playwright. Many of his works are extant. |
| Thrasea Paetus | (c. 10 AD-66 AD) | Roman senator and Stoic martyr who opposed Nero. |
| Lucius Annaeus Cornutus | (c. 20-c. 70 AD) | Stoic teacher who wrote a Compendium of Greek Theology |
| Chaeremon of Alexandria | (fl. 50 AD) | Librarian at Alexandria. Tutor to Nero. |
| Paconius Agrippinus | (fl. 60 AD) | Roman senator admired by Epictetus |
| Publius Egnatius Celer | (fl. 60 AD) | Tutor of Barea Soranus. Informer in the reign of Nero |
| Persius | (34-62AD) | Poet and satirist. Friend of Lucan. |
| Helvidius Priscus | (fl. 65 AD) | Romand senator and son-in-law of Thrasea. |
| Arulenus Rusticus | (c. 30-93 AD) | Statesman. Friend and pupil of Thrasea Paetus |
| Musonius Rufus | (c. 25-c. 90 AD) | Taught Epictetus. Some of his lectures are extant |
| Fannia | (c. 100 AD) | Wife of Helvidius Priscus. Part of the opposition to Nero. |
| Euphrates the Stoic | (c. 35-118 AD) | Philosopher, orator and pupil of Musonius Rufus |
| 2nd Century AD | ||
| Epictetus (of Hierapolis) | (c. 55-c. 135 AD) | Pupil of Musonius Rufus. His Discourses and Enchiridion are extant. |
| Hierocles | (fl. 150 AD) | Author of Elements of Ethics |
| Flavius Arrianus | (c. 90-175 AD) | Historian and pupil of Epictetus |
| Apollonius of Chalcedon | (fl. 150 AD) | Stoic teacher of Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus |
| Claudius Maximus | (fl. 150 AD) | Stoic philosopher and friend of Marcus Aurelius |
| Cinna Catulus | (fl. 150 AD) | Stoic teacher of Marcus Aurelius |
| Junius Rusticus | (c. 100-c. 170 AD) | Philosopher and Consul. Adviser of Marcus Aurelius |
| Marcus Aurelius | (121-180 AD) | Roman Emperor from 161-180 AD. His philosophical notebook, Meditations is extant. |
