Epictetus

About Epictetus

Epictetus (c. 50 – c. 135 CE) was a prominent Greek Stoic philosopher whose teachings profoundly influenced Western ethical thought. Born into slavery, he gained his freedom and established a successful school of philosophy, emphasizing that while external events are beyond our control, our judgments and reactions to them are entirely within our power. His work, preserved primarily by his student Arrian in the Discourses and the Enchiridion (Handbook), forms a cornerstone of Stoicism, earning him a high Historical Popularity Index rank of #998 out of approximately 15,000 figures.

Despite this significant historical standing, Epictetus's modern internet visibility suggests a substantial attention gap. In 2025, his Wikipedia page garnered 360K views, resulting in an attention score of approximately 1x his expected level relative to his historical importance. This figure proves surprisingly resilient compared to others, yet it stands in sharp contrast to figures like Louis XV of France (#258 importance), who received only 96K views, meaning the vastly less historically important monarch drew significantly less attention online. However, the decline in interest is measurable: Epictetus saw an 8.3% drop in year-over-year views, alongside a more pronounced 13% momentum decrease between Q1 and Q3 of 2025, suggesting a slow erosion of digital focus on this key ancient thinker.

While his direct philosophical lineage is not explicitly covered in our linked resources, his emphasis on personal ethics resonates with the self-mastery celebrated in many traditions. For context on other influential figures from the ancient world, readers might explore the legacy of figures like Julius Caesar.