Memmius

From Epicurus Wiki

Gaius Memmius Gemellus was a Roman orator and poet, tribune of the people (66 BCE), son-in-law of Sulla, and patron of Lucretius and Catullus. He is remembered chiefly because it was to him that Lucretius addressed the De rerum natura, perhaps with the idea of making him a convert to the doctrines of Epicurus. It is inconceivable, however, that he paid any genuine heed to Epicurean Philosophy.

According to Ovid (Trisi. ii. 433) he was the author of erotic poems. He possessed considerable oratorical abilities, but his contempt for Latin letters and preference for Greek models impaired his efficiency as an advocate Cicero (Cic. Ad Att., lV, 17 Brut. 70).

In civic life, he was first a strong supporter of Pompey, but then quarrelled with him and went over to Caesar, whom he had previously attacked. In 54 BCE, as candidate for the consulship, he lost Caesar's support by revealing a scandalous transaction in which he and his fellow candidate had been implicated (Cic. Ad Alt. iv. 15-18). Condemned for illegal practices at the election, he withdrew to Athens, and afterwards, to Mytilene. He died on or after the year 49.

It appears from Cicero (Ad Fam. xiii. 1) that during his time in Athens, he took possession of the site of Epicurus' Garden and was determined to build on the site himself. Neither the specifics of his plan nor its outcome is known (more at Epicurus' Garden).