# Eudoxus of Cnidus — The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers character guide

> Eudoxus of Cnidus in The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers by Diogenes Laërtius.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** the Cnidean Eudoxus

**First appearance:** 0079-eudoxus

## Snapshot

Astronomer, geometer, physician, and lawgiver who shaved his eyebrows in Egypt, studied with Plato, and was told by a sacred bull exactly how long he had to live.

## Who they are

Eudoxus of Cnidus arrived in Athens poor and hungry, attached himself to the Socratic circle, then sailed to Egypt with letters of introduction and spent a year and a half among the priests, adopting their customs down to the eyebrows. He returned to teach at Cyzicus and the Propontis, drew crowds of disciples, and — according to some — did so partly to needle Plato, who had once dropped him from his school. His reputation was so bright that people called him Endoxus, 'of good repute,' and the story of Apis the bull licking his cloak gives his biography the shape of a fable about brilliance and brevity.

## In the story

### [Book VIII: The Pythagorean and Promiscuous Philosophers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/book-viii)

Prominent Pythagorean philosopher; his studies under Plato, travels to Egypt, and contributions to astronomy and geometry are highlighted.

### [Eudoxus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/eudoxus)

Main subject of the chapter; an astronomer, geometrician, physician, and lawgiver who studied under Archytas and Plato, traveled to Egypt, and later returned to Athens.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/characters/eudoxus
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