Son of Bloson or Bautor, but others [say] of Herakis; from Ephesus; a naturalist philosopher, who was nicknamed "Obscure."[1] This man was a disciple of none of the philosophers, but he trained himself by natural ability and diligence. When this man was sick with dropsy he did not allow the physicians to treat him as they wished; but he himself rubbed himself all over with cow-dung and allowed this to dry in the sun, and as he lay dogs came forward and tore him apart.[2] But others say that he died buried in sand. Some said that he was a student of Xenophanes and Hippasus the Pythagorean. He lived in the 69th Olympiad,[3] in the reign of Darius the son of Hystaspes, and he wrote many [things] in poetic form.
See under the Delian diver.[4]