Demetrius Lacon

Demetrius Lacon or Demetrius of Laconia (Greek: Δημήτριος; fl. late 2nd century BC) was an Epicurean philosopher, 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)^[4]
• 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)^[5]

• an untitled theological work (PHerc. 1055)^[6]
• an untitled rhetorical work (PHerc. 128)