Demetrius Lacon or Demetrius of Laconia was an Epicurean philosopher of the late 2nd century BC, and a disciple of Protarchus.[1] He was an older contemporary of Zeno of Sidon and a teacher of Philodemus. Sextus Empiricus quotes part of a commentary by Demetrius on Epicurus, where Demetrius interprets Epicurus' statement that "time is an accident of accidents."[2]
Papyrus scrolls containing portions of the works of Demetrius were discovered at the Villa of the Papyri at Herculaneum. The major works partially preserved are:[3]
* Quaestiones convivales (PHerc. 1006)
* On the Puzzles of Polyaenus (PHerc. 1083, 1258, 1429, 1642, 1647, 1822)
* On Geometry (PHerc. 1061)
* On Poems (PHerc. 188, 1014)
* two untitled works (PHerc. 1786, 124)
In addition, he is the probable author of the following works:
* On the Size of the Sun (PHerc. 1013)
* On Fickleness (PHerc. 831)
* an untitled work on textual criticism of Epicurus' writings (PHerc. 1012)
* an untitled theological work (PHerc. 1055)
* an untitled rhetorical work (PHerc. 128)
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Demetrius of Alopece,a deme of Athens, was a Greek sculptor of the early part of the 4th century BC, who is said by ancient critics to have been notable for the life-like realism of his statues.
His portrait of Pellichus, a Corinthian general, with fat paunch and bald head, wearing a cloak which leaves him half exposed, with some of the hairs of his head flowing in the wind, and prominent veins, was admired by Lucian. He was contrasted with Cresilas, an idealizing sculptor of the generation before.
Since however the peculiarities mentioned by Lucian do not appear in Greek portraits before the 3rd century BC. and since the Greek art of the 4th century consistently idealizes, there would seem to be a difficulty to explain. The date of Demetrius above given is confirmed by inscriptions found on the Athenian Acropolis
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