Timon of Athens (person)

Timon of Athens ( ancient Greek Τίμων; 5th century BC) was a Greek misanthrope, who criticized the einreißende his time in Athens lasciviousness with beißendstem ridicule.

Timon, whose historicity is established not sure according to tradition, was the son of Echekratidas from Kollytos. Disgusted with his friends and fellow citizens Timon is said to have withdrawn from the world and lived as a hermit on the outskirts of Athens in a tower-like house. Later he was erroneously equated with the philosopher Timon of Phlius. He died because of refusal of medical aid to a hip dislocation.

30 BC, the triumvir Mark Antony moved to his defeat at the Battle of Actium in a lonely house near Alexandria back, which he renamed after Timon in Timoneion because he had been unfairly treated by his friends.

Timon was the model for Lucian's satire Timon or The Misanthrope, William Shakespeare's tragedy Timon of Athens, Henry Purcell's opera Timon of Athens, and for Molière's comedy The Misanthrope. The comedy of Timon Antiphanes is lost.