Attalus (; el|Ἄτταλος) was a Stoic philosopher in the reign of Tiberius around 25 AD. He was defrauded of his property by Sejanus, and exiled where he was reduced to cultivating the ground.[1] The elder Seneca describes him as a man of great eloquence, and by far the acutest philosopher of his age.[1]
He taught the Stoic philosophy to Seneca the Younger,[2] who frequently quotes him, and speaks of him in the highest terms.[3] Seneca reminisces about Attalus in his 108th Letter:
In the same letter, Seneca describes some of the Stoic training he received from Attalus:
Of his written works, none survive. Seneca mentions a work of his on lightning;[4] and it is supposed that he may be the author of the Proverbs referred to by Hesychius[5] as written by one Attalus.