Editing Epicurus (section)

===Death===
Diogenes Laërtius records that, according to Epicurus's successor [[Hermarchus]], Epicurus died a slow and painful death in 270&nbsp;BC at the age of seventy-two from a [[bladder stone|stone blockage]] of his urinary tract. Despite being in immense pain, Epicurus is said to have remained cheerful and to have continued to teach until the very end. Possible insights into Epicurus's death may be offered by the extremely brief ''Epistle to [[Idomeneus of Lampsacus|Idomeneus]]'', included by Diogenes Laërtius in Book X of his ''[[Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers]]''. The authenticity of this letter is uncertain and it may be a later pro-Epicurean forgery intended to paint an admirable portrait of the philosopher to counter the large number of forged epistles in Epicurus's name portraying him unfavorably.{{sfn|Gordon|2012|pages=141–142}}
<blockquote>
I have written this letter to you on a happy day to me, which is also the last day of my life. For I have been attacked by a painful inability to urinate, and also dysentery, so violent that nothing can be added to the violence of my sufferings. But the cheerfulness of my mind, which comes from the recollection of all my philosophical contemplation, counterbalances all these afflictions. And I beg you to take care of the children of [[Metrodorus of Lampsacus (the younger)|Metrodorus]], in a manner worthy of the devotion shown by the young man to me, and to philosophy.<ref name=laerti4>[[Diogenes Laërtius]], ''Lives of Eminent Philosophers'', [http://www.attalus.org/old/diogenes10a.html#22 10.22] (trans. C.D. Yonge).</ref></blockquote>

If authentic, this letter would support the tradition that Epicurus was able to remain joyful to the end, even in the midst of his suffering. It would also indicate that he maintained a special concern for the wellbeing of children.{{sfn|Gordon|2012|pages=141–142}}