Phaedrus was an Epicurean philosopher and predecessor of Patro as head of the Epicurean school at Athens. He had been known to Cicero since Cicero's youth (before Cicero heard Philo of Larissa c. 88 BC), and was remembered as a good man as well as a philosopher. His 'entreaty' was cited by Patro as moral authority for his claim to Epicurus's property.