Lacydes

• an Academician of Cyrene, a pupil of Arcesilas, Cic. Ac. 2 (Luc.), 6, 16; id. Tusc. 5, 37, 107.

(Λακύδης).

1. A native of Cyrene, the son of Alexander. In his youth he was poor, but remarkable for his industry, as well as for his affable and engaging manners. He removed to Athens, and attached himself to the New Academy, according to a silly story quoted by Eusebius (Praep. Evang. 14.7) from Numenius, because the facility with which his servants robbed him without being detected, convinced him that no reliance could be placed on the evidence of the senses. He was a disciple of Arcesilaus, and succeeded him as president of the school, over which he presided for 26 years. The place where his instructions were delivered was a garden, named the Λακύδειον, provided for the purpose by his friend Attalus Philometor king of Pergamus. This alteration in the locality of the school seems at least to have contributed to the rise of the name of the New Academy. Before his death Lacydes resigned his place to Telecles and Evander of Phocis, a thing which no philosopher had ever done before him. He died in B. C. 241, according to Diogenes Laertius (4.60; comp. Aelian, Ael. VH 2.41; Athen. 10.438. a.), from the effects of excessive drinking. According to Eusebius (Euseb. Praep. Ev. 14.7), he was so frugal, in other respects at least, that he was styled ὁ οἰκονομικός. In his philosophical tenets he followed Arcesilaus closely. Cicero (Cic. Ac. 2.6), speaking of the latter, says: "cujus primo non admodum probata ratio, quanquam floruit quum acumine ingenii tum admirabili quodam lepore dicendi proxime a Lacyde solo retenta est." Suidas (s. v. Λακ.) mentions writings of his under the general name of φιλόσοφα or περὶ φύσεως. (D. L. 4.59_61.)

2. A peripatetic philosopher, mentioned by Aelian (Hist. A.n 7.41), and Pliny (Plin. Nat. 10.22). Nothing is recorded of him but that he had a pet goose which never left him either by day or by night. [C.P.M]

(Λακύδης). A philosopher of Cyrené, who filled the chair of the Platonic School at Athens after the death of Arcesilaüs. He assumed this office about the year B.C. 245. He is said to have been the founder of a new school, not because he introduced any new doctrines, but because he changed the place of instruction, and held his school in the garden of Attalus, still, however, within the limits of the Academic grove. He died of a palsy occasioned by excessive drinking about B.C. 215 (Diog. Laert.iv. 59 foll.; Aelian, V.H. ii. 41).