Æschines, his contemporary, wrote 5 orations and 9 epistles. The orations alone are extant. 340.
Demosthenes was his contemporary and rival.
Theophrastus composed many books and treatises—Diogenes enumerates 200. Of these 20 are extant—among which are a history of stones—treatises on plants, on the winds, signs of fair weather, &c.—also, his Characters, a moral treatise. 320.
Menander was his pupil; lie was called prince of the new comedy. Only a few fragments remain of 108 comedies which he wrote.
Philemon was contemporary with these two. The fragments of some of his comedies are printed with those of Menander.
Megasthenes lived about this time. He wrote about the Indians and other oriental nations. His history is often quoted by the ancients. There is a work now extant which passes for his composition, but which is spurious.
Epicurus also lived now. He wrote 300 volumes according to Diogenes.
Chrysippus indeed, rivalled him in the number, but not in the merit of his productions. They were contemporaries. 280.
Bion, the pastoral poet, whose Idyllia are so celebrated, lived about this time. It is probable that Moschus, also a pastoral poet, was his contemporary—from the affection with which he mentions him.
Theocritus distinguished himself by his poetical compositions, of which 30 Idyllia and some epigrams remain—also, a ludicrous poem called Syrinx. Virgil imitated him. B.C. 280.