ATHENODORUS, an eminent Stoic philoso pher, and the intimate friend of Augustus. He was born at a village near Tarsus, in Cilicia, whence he obtained the surname of Cananita. When young, he displayed a remarkable instance of generosity. His brother being convicted of a crime for which his property was confiscated, Athenodorus gave him the half of his ; and overlooking the ingratitude with which he received it, continued to treat him with unabated kindness. On going to Rome, the excel lence of his character procured for him the friendship of Augustus, that discerning patron of merit ; who loaded him with honours, and made him preceptor to Tiberius.
Being indulged by the emperor with an unlimited freedom of expressing his sentiments, he availed himself of this liberty, on one occasion, in rather an extraor dinary manner. It happened one day that Athenodorus met a senator of his acquaintance, who was thrown into the greatest alarm, because the emperor had sent for his wife, who was remarkable for her beauty. Nobody, it seems, ever thought of resisting such a mandate ; so formidable was the tyrant's resentment. But the philosopher resolved to give him a strong hint ; for arming himself with a naked sword, and slipping in to the chair instead of the lady, he was thus carried into the presence of Augustus. Atlitnodorus rushed out of the chair, and furiously brandishing the sword, seemed to be on the point of dispatching him. The
emperor was at first greatly terrified ; but on learn ing the intention, he received the admonition with much deference, and behaved, it is said, more pru dently for the future.
Having continued at court till he was far advanced in years, A'thenodorus obtained permission to return to his native country. Before he went away, he ad vised Augustus to be on his guard against anger ; re commending to him, whenever he felt the commence ment of that passion, to repeat the four-and-twenty letters of the alphabet : upon which, the emperor, taking him by the hand, said to him in the kindest manner, " I have need of your assistance still longer :" and he kept him for another year.
On his departure he seems to have been invested with some authority over his native country ; for, on his arrival, he took an active part in the government of Tarsus: he reformed abuses, expelled one,Boetus and his partizans, introduced a new code of laws, and obtained from Augustus an exemption from certain taxes which oppressed the inhabitants ; for which service he was honoured by his countrymen with an annual festival. He is said to have died at the age of 82. He wrote concerning the ocean and its tides; and is thought to have written a history of his own country : but all his works have perished.