Metrodoros of Lampsakos was born in 330 B.C. He was a pupil and close friend of Epikouros, founder of the famous philosophical school. When Epikouros moved his school from Lampsakos to Athens in 306 B.C., Metrodoros accompained him, and was to remain there until his death in 277 B.C. According to Seneca, Metrodoros did not have his master's energy and originality of thought, but he was first among those who could attain the truth by the help of others. Although twelve years younger than Epikouros, Metrodoros died seven years before him. Epikouros ordered that his and Metrodoros' memory should be celebrated on the 20th of every month. It is believed that Epikouros had a statue erected of his friend following his death. The original, likely of bronze, depicted the philosopher seated, leaning slightly forward, with a mantle draped over his left shoulder, behind his right shoulder, and around his waist and legs. The identification of the several surviving sculptures is confirmed by the inscribed double herm with Epikouros in the Capitoline Museum.

See pp. 164-166 in Richter, The Portraits of the Greeks; pp. 56-57 in Bieber, The Sculpture of the Hellenistic Age; and no. 124 in Comstock and Vermeule, Sculpture in Stone.