Simplicius, Commentary on the Enchiridion, 46. There is also a joke at Epictetus' expense in Lucian's Life of Demonax about the fact that he had no family.
His year of birth is uncertain. He was born a slave. He must have been old enough to teach philosophy by the time Domitian banished all philosophers from Rome c. 93 A.D, because he was among those who left the city. He also describes himself as an old man to Arrian c. 108 A.D. cf. Discourses, i.9.10; i.16.20; ii.6.23; etc.
He apparently was alive in the reign of Hadrian (117–138). Marcus Aurelius (born 121 A.D.) was an admirer of him, but never met him, and Aulus Gellius (ii.18.10) writing mid-century, speaks of him as if belonging to the recent past.
