Editing Cleanthes (section)

==Life==
Cleanthes was born in [[Assos]] in the [[Troad]], about 330 BC.{{efn|name="age1"|According to [[Apollodorus of Athens|Apollodorus]] as quoted by [[Philodemus]], Cleanthes was born in Aristophanes' archonship (331/0 BC) and died in Jason's Archonship (230/29 BC). [[Pseudo-Lucian]], [[Valerius Maximus]], and [[Censorinus]] say that Cleanthes lived to the age of 99 (although [[Diogenes Laërtius]] says he died at the age of 80.<ref>"until his death at the same age as Zeno according to some authorities" {{cite LotEP |chapter=Cleanthes |§=168–176 |mode=cs2 }}.</ref>) Dorandi prefers an age of 101. For more information see
{{harvnb|Dorandi|1999|p=38}}.}} According to [[Diogenes Laërtius]],<ref name="diog1">{{cite LotEP |chapter=Cleanthes |§=168–176 |mode=cs2 }}</ref> he was the son of Phanias, and early in life he was a successful [[Ancient Greek boxing|boxer]].  With but four [[Ancient drachma|drachma]]e in his possession he came to [[Athens]], where he took up philosophy, listening first to the lectures of [[Crates of Thebes|Crates]] the [[Cynicism (philosophy)|Cynic]],<ref>Suda, ''Cleanthes''</ref> and then to those of [[Zeno of Citium|Zeno]], the Stoic. In order to support himself, he worked all night as water-carrier to a gardener (hence his nickname ''the Well-Water-Collector'', {{langx|el|Φρεάντλης}}).  As he spent the whole day in studying philosophy with no visible means of support, he was summoned before the [[Areopagus]] to account for his way of living. The judges were so delighted by the evidence of work which he produced, that they voted him ten [[mina (unit)|minae]], though Zeno would not permit him to accept them. His power of patient endurance, or perhaps his slowness, earned him the title of "''the Ass''" from his fellow students, a name which he was said to have rejoiced in, as it implied that his back was strong enough to bear whatever Zeno put upon it.

Such was the esteem awakened by his high moral qualities that, on the death of Zeno in 262 BC, he became the leader of the school. He continued, however, to support himself by the labour of his own hands. Among his pupils were his successor, [[Chrysippus]], and [[Antigonus II Gonatas]], from whom he accepted 3000 minae. He died at the age of 99, c. 230 BC.{{efn|name="age1"}} We are told that a dangerous [[Peptic ulcer|ulcer]] had compelled him to fast for a time. Subsequently he continued his abstinence, saying that, as he was already half-way on the road to death, he would not trouble to retrace his steps.<ref name="diog1"/>

[[Simplicius of Cilicia|Simplicius]], writing in the 6th century AD, mentions that a statue of Cleanthes was still visible at Assos, which had been erected by the [[Roman Senate]].<ref>Simplicius, ''Commentary on the Enchiridion of Epictetus''.</ref>