Life: Epictetus 50-130AD. Roman Freed Slave. Born in Hierapolis, in the province of Phrygia. Brought to Rome as a slave of a former slave named Epaphroditus, who may have been Nero's administrative secretary. Epaphroditus sent Epictetus to study with Musonius Rufus, one of the most powerful Stoics since Zeno. He was freed sometime after Nero's death in the year 68, and became a well-known teacher. Afer Domitian banished all the philosophers from Rome in 90 AD (he was angry over their encouragement for his opposition), Epictetus fled to Nicopolis in northern Greece where h continued to teach until his death.

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