This many also be the explanation to the words of Epicurean that were put in his mouth, "Where I am, death is not. And where death it, I am not (White, 47)." Regarding his atheism, the argument was equally weak. In the remaining fragments of his own words, he didn't speak strongly on the matter. He clearly stated that "at least some gods were human inventions." The sentiment of Prodicus, in any case, seemed to point toward a serious doubt as to the existence of anything divine. He argued that at the most primitive stage of development, people worshiped what was useful for immediate survival (sun, rain, rivers, etc.). At a later stage, they worshipped the inventors of various arts (agriculture, the forge, etc). These unorthodox views got him into trouble in Athens with the traditionally pious. Despite this, he was one of the more popular sophists and was able to demand large fees for his services (Alexandros).
"He had great fees by tutoring young men. His charge to a pupil was fifty drachmae (White, 45)." Prodicus was known for his love of money. He would go from one city to another displaying his eloquence, and, though he did it in a mercenary way, People flocked from all around the city to hear him, although he was described as, "parodied as a dilettante with a loud booming voice." It was said that Xenophon, a prisoner in Boeotia, desired to hear Prodicus that he came up with the required bail and went and gratified his curiosity. Whenever he was in Athens, either for public missions or for private business, he made huge sums of money by giving public readings of his works and expensive lessons to wealthy pupils. Theramenes, Euripides, and Isocrates were said to have been pupils or hearers of prodicus (Alexandros). Aristophanes in his work, Clouds, said, "We would pay heed to no other space-thinker except Prodicus because of his wisdom and wit (Barrett)." While many saw him as a man of wisdom, others believed him to be the exact opposite.
