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"Theophrastus was born at Eresos on Lesbos in 372/1 or 370/1 bc. His name was originally changed by Aristotle, in recognition (so later writers believed) of his divine eloquence.2 His association with Aristotle will have begun at Athens, if we accept that he studied with Plato.3 Otherwise it will have begun at Assos (on the coast of Asia Minor opposite Lesbos), where Hermias, ruler of Atarneus, former fellow- student of Aristotle in the Academy, gathered together a group of philosophers after the death of Plato in 348/7. The association continued in Macedonia, where Aristotle was invited by Philip ii in 343/2,4 and in Athens, when Aristotle returned there in 335/4 and founded the Lyceum. The vicissitudes of the period which follows, and some of its leading figures, are reflected in the Characters.5 Lycurgus, during whose period of political influence Athens had retained a democratic constitution and a measure of independence from Macedonia, died c. 325/4. Alexander (xxiii.3) died in 323. During the uprising against Macedonia which followed, Aristotle left Athens for Euboea, where he died in 322/1, and Theophrastus became head of the Lyceum.6 Antipater (xxiii.4), regent of Macedonia, defeated the Athenians and their allies in 322, placed Athens under the control of Phocion, and imposed an oligarchic constitution and a Macedonian garrison. He designated Polyperchon (viii.6), general of Alexander, to succeed him in preference to his own son Cassander (viii.6, 9), with whom Theophrastus was on friendly terms"--
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