Cleanthes of Assos

Cleanthes of Assos was a prominent Stoic philosopher from the ancient Greek city of Assos, who lived around 330-230 BCE. He succeeded Zeno of Citium, the founder of Stoicism, as the head of the Stoic school in Athens. Cleanthes is best known for his work "Hymn to Zeus," which poetically expresses his belief in a rational and divine order to the universe. He emphasized virtues like self-discipline and harmony with nature, promoting the idea that living in accordance with reason leads to true happiness. His contributions helped shape Stoic thought and influence later philosophical traditions.