Criton

(Κρίτων), of Athens, the friend and disciple of Socrates, is more celebrated in antiquity for his love and affection for his master, whom he generously supported with his fortune (D. L. 2.20, 121), than as a philosopher himself. Accordingly, whenever he is introduced in Plato's dialogues, his attachment to Socrates is extolled, and not his philosophical talents. It was Criton who had made every arrangement for the escape of Socrates from prison, and who tried, in vain, to persuade him to fly, as we see from Plato's dialogue named after him; and it was Criton also who closed the eyes of the dying philosopher. (Plat. Phaedon, p. 118a.) Criton applied his great riches, which are mentioned by Socrates in a jocose way in the Euthydemus of Plato (p. 304c.), to the noblest purposes. His sons, of whom he possessed four according to Diogenes Laertius (2.121), and two according to Plato (Euthydem. p. 360, with Heindorf's note), were likewise disciples of Socrates. The eldest of them was Critobulus. [Critobulus.]

Criton wrote seventeen dialogues on philosophical subjects, the titles of which are given by Diogenes Laertius (l.c.). Among these there was one " On Poetics" (Περὶ Ποιητικῆς), which is the only work on this subject mentioned in the history of Greek literature before the work of Aristotle. (The passages in Plato's writings, in which Criton is mentioned, are collected in Groen van Prinsterer, Prosopographia Platonica, p. 200, &c., Lugd. Bat. 1823; comp. Hermann, Gesch. und System der Platon. Philosophie, i. p. 633.) [A.S]

(Κρίτων).

1. Of Aegae, a Pythagorean philosopher, a fragment of whose work, περὶ προνοίας καὶ ἀγαθῆς τύχης, is preserved by Stobaeus. (Serm. 3; Fabric. Bibl. Graec. i. pp. 840, 886.)

2. Of Athens, a comic poet of the new comedy, of very little note. Of his comedies there only remain a few lines and three titles, Αἰτωλοί, Φιλοπράγμον, and Μεσσηνία. (Pollux. 9.4. 15, 10.7. 35; Ath. iv. p. 173b.; Meineke, Frag. Com. Graec. i. p. 484, iv. pp. 537, 538.)

3. Of Naxus. [Eudoxus.]

4. Of Pieria, in Macedonia, wrote historical and descriptive works, entitled Παλληνικά, Συρακουσῶν κτίσις, Περσικά, Σικελικά, Συρακουσῶν περιήγησις, and περὶ τῆς ἀρχῆς τῶν Μακεδόνων. (Suid. s. v.) Immediately before, Suidas has the entry, Κρίτων ἔγραψεν ἐν τοῖς Γετικοῖς. (Comp. Suid. s. v. γέσοι; Steph. Byz. Γετία.) Whether this was the same person is not known. (Voss. Hist. Graec. p. 423, Westermann; Ebert, de Critone Pieriota in Diss. Sic. i. p. 138.) [P.S]

(Κρίτων).

1. A physician at Rome in the first or second century after Christ, attached to the court of one of the emperors (Gal. De Compos. Medicam. sec. Locos, 1.3, vol. xii. p. 445), probably Trajan, A. D. 98-117. He is perhaps the person mentioned by Martial. (Epigr. 11.60. 6.) Works

None of his works are extant, except a few fragments preserved by other authors. On Cosmetics (Κοσμητικά)

He wrote a work on Cosmetics (Κοσμητικά) in four books, which were very popular in Galen's time (ibid. p. 446) and which contained almost all that had been written on the same subject by Heracleides of Tarentum, Cleopatra, and others.

The contents of each chapter of the four books have been preserved by Galen (ibid.), by whom the work is frequently quoted. Editions

The contents of each chapter of the four books have been inserted by Fabricius in the twelfth volume of the old edition of his Biblioth. Graeca. On Simple Medicines (Περὶ τῶν Ἁπλῶν Φαρμάκων)

He wrote also a work on Simple Medicines (Περὶ τῶν Ἁπλῶν Φαρμάκων) of which the fourth book is quoted by Galen (De Compos. Medicam. sec. Gen. 2.11, 6.1, vol. xiii. pp. 516, 862). Other fragmentary remains

he is also quoted by Aetius and Paulus Aegineta, and may perhaps be the person to whom one of the letters of Apollonius of Tyana is addressed. (Ep. xvii. ed. Colon. Agripp. 1623, 8vo.) On Cookery

He is perhaps the author of a work on Cookery, mentioned by Athenaeus. (xii. p. 516.)

2. Another physician of the same name is mentioned by Galen as having belonged to the sect of the Empirici in the fourth or third century before Christ. (De Subfig. Empir. 100.1, vol. ii. p. 340, ed. Chart.) [W.A.G]

(Κρίτων). A rich citizen of Athens and a friend and disciple of Socrates. He made arrangements to enable Socrates to escape from prison just before his death, but the firmness of the philosopher, who refused to fly, foiled the plan. He was the author of seventeen philosophical dialogues, now lost; and a dialogue of Plato bears his name.