a Greek philosopher, born at Elis in Peloponnesus, flourished about 300 B.C. He was the disciple of Anaxarchus, whom he accompanied as far as India. He had made painting his profession, before he devoted himself to the study of philosophy. He established a sect whose fundamental principle was, That there is nothing true or false, right or wrong, honest or dishonest, just or unjust; or that there is no standard of anything beyond law or custom, and that uncertainty and doubt belong to everything. From this continual seeking after truth and never finding it, the sect obtained the name of Sceptics or Pyrrhonians, from the founder.

PYRRHUS, the name of two kings of Epirus. See that article.