Cleanthes

Cleanthes was born around 330 BCE in Assos, a city in the Troad region of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). He was the son of Phanias and came from humble beginnings. In his youth, Cleanthes was a successful boxer, a profession that taught him the discipline and endurance that would later characterize his philosophical life.

With only four drachmae to his name—a meager sum even by ancient standards—Cleanthes made the journey to Athens around 280 BCE. This decision to leave his homeland with almost nothing demonstrates the courage and determination that would define his character. Athens was the intellectual center of the Greek world, attracting philosophers, students, and thinkers from across the Mediterranean.

Upon arriving in Athens, Cleanthes initially attended lectures by Crates the Cynic, but he soon discovered the teachings of Zeno of Citium, the founder of Stoicism. Zeno's philosophy resonated deeply with Cleanthes, who became one of his most devoted students. However, Cleanthes faced a significant challenge: he had no means of financial support.

To sustain himself while pursuing philosophy, Cleanthes worked as a water-carrier during the night, hauling water for a gardener. This earned him the nickname "the Well-Water-Collector" (Φρεάντλης in Greek). He would spend his days studying philosophy and his nights performing manual labor, demonstrating an extraordinary commitment to learning that few could match.

Cleanthes's unusual lifestyle—studying philosophy all day with no visible means of support—aroused suspicion among the Athenians. He was summoned before the Areopagus, Athens's most prestigious court, to account for his way of living. The judges suspected he might be living off ill-gotten gains or engaging in some form of deception.

When Cleanthes appeared before the court, he presented evidence of his honest labor—his water-carrying tools and testimony from those who employed him. The judges were so impressed by his dedication to both honest work and philosophical study that they voted to award him ten minae, a substantial sum. However, Zeno would not permit him to accept the money, believing it would compromise his philosophical integrity.

Cleanthes's fellow students, perhaps envious of his dedication or amused by his methodical approach to learning, nicknamed him "the Ass." Rather than taking offense, Cleanthes embraced this title, saying it implied that his back was strong enough to bear whatever burden Zeno placed upon him. This response reveals both his humility and his understanding that true philosophical progress requires patience and persistence.

His power of endurance became legendary among the Stoics. While other students might grow frustrated with difficult concepts or lengthy discussions, Cleanthes would patiently work through problems, demonstrating the very virtues that Stoicism taught: resilience, self-discipline, and emotional equilibrium.

When Zeno died around 262 BCE, Cleanthes was chosen to succeed him as the head (scholarch) of the Stoic school. This appointment was a testament to his character and his deep understanding of Stoic principles, even if he was not considered the most intellectually brilliant of Zeno's students. He would lead the school for the next 32 years, from 262 to 230 BCE.

Despite his elevated position, Cleanthes continued to support himself through manual labor, refusing to live off the school's resources or accept patronage that might compromise his independence. This consistency between his teachings and his lifestyle earned him enormous respect and helped establish the Stoic tradition of philosophical integrity.

As head of the school, Cleanthes successfully preserved and developed Zeno's doctrines while adding his own insights, particularly in the area of Stoic physics. He developed the theory of "tension" (tonos), which distinguished Stoic materialism from other philosophical schools by arguing that matter was not inert but possessed an active, divine principle.

Among his most notable students was Chrysippus, who would become the third head of the Stoic school and systematize Stoic doctrine. Cleanthes also taught Antigonus II Gonatas, the king of Macedonia, from whom he accepted a gift of 3,000 minae—a sum he used not for personal luxury but to support the school and its mission.

Cleanthes brought a deeply religious dimension to Stoicism that complemented its rational foundation. His most famous surviving work is the "Hymn to Zeus," a poetic prayer that expresses the Stoic understanding of divine providence and human acceptance of fate. In this hymn, he articulates the famous prayer: "Lead me, Zeus, and you too, Destiny, to wherever your decrees have assigned me."

This work demonstrates Cleanthes's belief that the universe is a living, rational entity governed by divine reason (Logos). He taught that true freedom comes not from resisting fate but from understanding and willingly accepting the rational order of the cosmos. This religious fervor gave Stoicism a spiritual depth that would influence later practitioners.

Cleanthes died around 230 BCE at the remarkable age of 99, having lived longer than almost any other ancient philosopher. According to ancient sources, he developed a dangerous ulcer that required him to fast for medical reasons. When the ulcer healed, he chose to continue his abstinence, saying that since he was already halfway on the road to death, he would not trouble to retrace his steps.

His death was seen as a final demonstration of Stoic principles—the rational acceptance of mortality and the courage to face death with dignity. The Roman Senate later erected a statue in his honor at Assos, recognizing his contributions to philosophy and his exemplary character. Cleanthes's legacy lies not in revolutionary new ideas but in his embodiment of Stoic virtues and his role in preserving and transmitting the teachings of Zeno to future generations.