Epictetus (/ˌɛpɪkˈtiːtəs/; Greek: Ἐπίκτητος; A.D. c. 55 – 135) was a Greek speaking Stoic philosopher. He was born a slave at Hierapolis, Phrygia (present day Pamukkale, Turkey), and lived in Rome until his banishment, when he went to Nicopolis in north-western Greece for the rest of his life. His teachings were written down and published by his pupil Arrian in his Discourses.Epictetus taught that philosophy is a way of life and not just a theoretical discipline.