The Seven Sages of Ancient Greece
Mosaic of the Seven Sages – Baalbeck (Heliopolis )- Lebanon – 3rd century CE – National Museum of Beirut – Calliope at center and Socrates at the top – Seven Sages clockwise from the top – Chilon – Pittacus – Periander – Cleobulus (damaged section) – Bias –Thales – Solon – National museum – Beirut
The Seven Sages or Seven Wise Men, was the name bestowed upon seven acclaimed philosophers, statesmen and law-givers of ancient Greece during the seventh to six century B.C.
These seven men were renowned for their practical wisdom, which lives on today in the form of popular sayings such as “nothing in excess” and “know thyself”.
The oldest mention on record of a standard list of seven sages is in Plato’s Protagoras, a dialogue (written around 385 BCE), between Socrates and the Protagoras, a sophist, a person who reasons with clever but deceptive or intellectually dishonest arguments.
No one person chose the Seven Sages; they were selected by a group of later philosophers and historians such as Plato and Herodotus, who put together lists of these acclaimed lawgivers and thinkers.
Choosing the Wise Seven
Diogenes Laërtius, a third century B.C biographer of ancient Greek philosophers, tells us of how it was no easy task choosing only seven of the numerous wise men of ancient Greece and there was a lot of disagreement about who should make it on to the list.
At one point there were more than twenty three nominees who made it on to one list or another in different versions of the list of seven.
Four of the final seven, Thales of Miletus, Solon of Athens, Pittacus of Mytilene and Bias of Priene, came up in nearly every version.
Chilon of Sparta, Cleobulus of Lindos, and Periander of Corinth were frequently taken on and off the list and replaced with others, as all three were considered tyrants and oppressive political rulers.
However, probably because of their notorious reputations, they made it back on to the list, knocking off the more pleasant personalities such as Anacharsis, Myson of Chenae, Epimenides the Phæstian and Pythagoras.
The Turning Point of Greek Culture
The introduction of the Seven Sages marked a turning point in ancient Greece’s culture.
There came a point when myths about ancient heroes such as Odysseus and Achilles, were no longer convincing or meaningful to members of the political assembly.
Academics like Plato and Herodotus began to seek out newer, more recent heroes, who had more in common with contemporary thoughts and ideas.
The Seven Sages was a new way of introducing practical and abstract wisdom through maxims while maintaining Homer’s traditional oral narrative format.
The final seven to be chosen as sages of ancient Greece are Thales of Miletus, Solon of Athens, Chilon of Sparta, Bias of Priene, Pittacus of Mytilene, Cleobulus of Lindos and Periander of Corinth.
1. Thales of Miletus (c. 624 – 547 BC)
Philosopher – Mathematician – Astronomer – First Western philosopher
“a guarantor ruins himself”
Detail of mosaic depicting Thales (c. 624 – 547 BC) – 2nd or 3rd century C.E. – Baalbeck – National Museum in Beirut
Thales of Miletus was a pre-Socratic philosopher from Miletus in Ionia, Asia Minor, who came to be regarded as the first philosopher to steer away from using mythology to explain things and instead used natural philosophy.
He is also thought to be one of the first philosophers to dabble in mathematics and science.
Thales believed that all of nature relied on one single substance; water.
He was even convinced that the Earth, a flat disk or mound of land and dirt, floated on water.
“Thales”, says Cicero, a Roman statesman, “assures that water is the principle of all things; and that God is that Mind which shaped and created all things from water.”
When it came to earthquakes, well, Thales explained them away by saying it was just the Earth being rocked by waves.
Thales also thought stars were balls of earth on fire; however, he was correct about the moon reflecting the Sun’s light.
Thales
A Man of all Trades
Thales is said to be the West’s “first mathematician”.
He is remembered for introducing the theoretical and practical use of geometry to Greece, especially with “Thales’s theorem” in which he states that if A, B, and C are distinct points on a circle where the line AC is a diameter, the angle ∠ ABC is a right angle. (I was never one for math; this is all Greek to me!).
Thales was also said to have calculated the heights of the pyramids and the distance of ships from the shore.
In addition to astronomy, Thales involved himself in other practical applications of mathematics, including engineering.
Everything Moves
Quote by Thales of Miletus
It seems Thales was way ahead of Einstein when it came to quantum physics.
According to the philosopher Aristotle, Thales thought “all things are full of gods”
His reasoning for such thoughts, so he stated, was that all things moved, either through magnetism or electricity, and if something moved, then it was alive, and if it was alive, then it must have a soul.
The Death of Thales
According to legend, Thales breathed his last at the age of seventy eight, when he died of heat stroke whilst watching the games during the 58th Olympiad (548 – 545 BC).
2. Solon of Athens (c. 630 – 560 BC)
Statesman – Poet – Lawmaker
“nothing in excess”
Detail of mosaic depicting Solon of Athens (c. 630 – 560 BC) – 2nd or 3rd century C.E. – Baalbeck – National Museum in Beirut
Solon, the first noted poet of Athens, who led a modest life and never sought great wealth, was chosen by the Athenians as their governor for numerous reasons.
He was admired by the aristocrats for his noble birth and the commoners trusted him as he seemed to be an honest man, who worked for his living, above all though, Solon was known for his moderate views.
Solon blamed the greed of the aristocratic estate owners for the disorder in Athens; however, he declined to take sides and would not accept democracy, which, to him, would have meant giving power to the common people.
Instead, Solon stuck to middle ground in order to find a way out of the crisis.
Solon did not believe a god, a king, a tyrant, a single class, or even he himself could save Athens, he believed all citizens, both rich and poor, were responsible for bringing about the common good of the city.
Solon for the People
The first thing Solon did after being elected governor of Athens, was to free all enslaved Athenians, cancel all their debts, which he called “shaking off the burdens” and retract all the brutal laws of Draco (his predecessor) except for the one of homicide being punishable with the death penalty.
Solon realized farming would never provide the citizens with enough to live on and had great plans to make Athens a powerful trading centre, helped along by having Athenian ships cross the Aegean and the Mediterranean Sea.
To prevent shortages of food, he forbid the export of any produce, other than olive oil and provided welfare for foreign tradesmen, which enabled them to settle in Athens.
This set the pace for the economic growth of the city, leading to its cultural development and military power.
Solon creates the Foundation for Democracy
Quote from Solon
Taking into account, their income and not their noble origin, Solon divided the Athenians into classes, be it that only the top four classes had political rights and could be elected in public posts, it was still a major change for the times.
Solon allowed all citizens to take part in the council that discussed public issues, and gave them the right to vote for any particular issue.
Also, he gave any citizen the right to take legal action on behalf of another citizen and forced every man to take part in wars.
In this way he stressed the importance to be politically active for the good of the state.
Many of Solon’s laws concerned family matters, one forbid dowries, this put a stop to marriages based on economic gain (Legally at least), he also introduced wills that allowed a person to leave property to anyone instead of only to relatives.
Solon’s new government was not a democracy controlled by the majority of the people, but it was a start in balancing political power among the economic classes.
He explained his purpose in one of his poems:
“To the people I have given such honor as is sufficient,
neither taking away nor granting them more.
For those who had power and were great in riches,
I greatly cared that they should suffer nothing wrong.
Thus I stood, holding my strong shield over both,
and I did not allow either side to prevail against justice.”
Pisistratus Takes over Athens
After completing his reformation of Athens, Solon took a break and left to sail around the world.
Before leaving Athens, it’s said Solon had the Athenians sign a contract, stating they would keep those reformations for at least 10 years before making any political changes.
Solon believed this would prevent any political instability until the town was on its feet again and recovered from all its political and financial problems.
However, this turned out not to be the case, only four years after Solon had left, a popular tyrant, Pisistratus, took over the power in Athens and established tyranny.
Solon returned to Athens and in protest, as an example to others, stood outside his own home, dressed in full armour, pleading with all who passed by, to resist the plots and conspiracies of Pisistratus.
His efforts were in vain.
Solon died shortly after, in Cyprus, at around the age of seventy.
Solon was remembered as a wise pioneer.
3. Chilon of Sparta (6th century BC)
Statesman – Politician – Tyrant
“know thyself”
Detail of mosaic depicting Chilon of Sparta (6th century BC) – 2nd or 3rd century C.E. – Baalbeck – National Museum in Beirut
Chilon of Sparta, a poet and influential politician, attributed with the militarization of Spartan society, was elected as a senior Spartan magistrate in 556/5 BCE.
Chilon is said to have been the one who changed the Spartans’ foreign policy, a move that would later help in establishing the Peloponnesian League, an ancient Greek military alliance, formed in around 550 BCE and led by Sparta.
Chilon is also known as the reformer who strengthened the power of magistrates by creating a system to check the power of the Spartan kings, for promoting moderation and ethical conduct and was acknowledged by the Spartans, as one of the wisest sages
Years later Chilon helped overthrow the tyrants in Sicyon, an ancient Greek city state in the northern Peloponnesus (present-day regional unit of Corinthia), which made certain they would become an ally of Sparta.
The Death of Chilon
Quote from Chilon of Sparta
The story goes that Chilon died of happiness, after witnessing his son win the gold in boxing, at the Olympics.
All who were in attendance at the Olypics, honored him by joining in his funeral procession.
The people of Sparta remembered him with the words they inscribed on his statue;
“this man the spear-crowned town of Sparta sired, Chilon, He who was first of the seven sages in wisdom.”
He is credited with sayings such as “Know thyself” and “Nothing in excess”, which are inscribed in the temple at Delphi.
Chilon was even said to have tutored King Leonidas and his daughter is said to have studied under Pythagoras.
4. Bias of Priene (6th century BC)
Poet – Philosopher – Statesman
“most people are bad”
Detail of mosaic depicting Bias of Priene (6th century BC) – 2nd or 3rd century C.E. – Baalbeck (Heliopopolis) – National Museum in Beirut
Bias, known for his moral sayings, was born at Priene, Ionia (modern-day Güllübahçe in Turkey) and is said to be a descendent of the Thebans, the founders of Priene.
He was not a statesman like many of the other Sages, but spent his life working as a lawyer, free of charge, for those who had been wronged, but only pleaded cases for those he truly believed to be innocent.
He is also known to have served as a mediator for Priene during a conflict with the island of Samos.
Renowned not only for his wisdom, but also for his compassion, Bias paid the ransom for some women who were kidnapped by pirates, whom he then educated and provided with dowries, before returning them to their families in Messenia.
The Beliefs of Bias
Quote from Bias of Priene
Bias’s belief that most men are bad earned him the praise of Heraclitus, a pre-Socratic philosopher, who considered him the greatest of the Seven Sages.
This was praise indeed as Heraclitus was well-known for disdaining historical figures!
Two more distinguished philosophers, Theophrastus and Satyrus the Peripatetic, also considered Bias to be the greatest of the Seven Sages.
Bias recommended the use of persuasion over force and thought it better to settle a dispute among enemies, which would turn one of them into a friend, than to settle disputes among friends, which would turn one of them into an enemy.
Bias considered material possessions unimportant.
The Death of Bias
Bias is said to have died at around the age of seventy, while pleading a case for one of his clients
Once he finished speaking, Bias is said to have rested his head in the lap of his on his grandson and by the time the judges had decided in favour of Bias’s client, Bias had died.
He was given an elaborate funeral by the city and city and inscribed on his tomb were the words;
“Beneath this stone lies Bias, who was born
In the illustrious Prienian land,
The glory of the whole Ionian race“
5. Pittacus of Mytilene (c. 640 – 568 BC)
Politician – Military General – Tyrant
“know your opportunity”
Detail of mosaic depicting Pittacus of Mytilene (c. 640 – 568 BC) – 2nd or 3rd century C.E. – Baalbeck (Heliopopolis) – National Museum in Beirut
Pittacus was a Mytilenean military general, whose personal motto “Whatever you do, do it well.”
In 608 – 606 BC, a war was fought by Athens against Mytilene, over control of Sigeion, an ancient Greek city founded by the Mytilenaeans, from the then, nearby Lesbos.
Phrynon, general of the Athenians, who had previously won the pentathlon in the Olympic Games (36th Olympiad), in order to end the dispute quickly, agreed to take part in a duel with the Mytilenean general, Pittacus.
Pittacus defeated Phrynon owing to a net hidden beneath his shield, with which he caught and Phrynon and the killed him with his sword.
For this victory and as thanks for the much bloodshed which had been avoided, the Mytilenaeans held Pittacus in the highest honour and made him ruler of the city.
He held this position for ten years, during which time he created laws through poetry, one of which goes like this:
“A crime committed by a person when drunk should receive double the punishment that it would merit if the offender were sober.”
Quote from Pittacus of Mytilene
Legend has it that Pittacus had a son who was killed and when the murderer was caught and brought before Pittacus, he let him go, saying;
“Pardon is better than repentance.”
Pittacus lived to be around seventy and died in the third year of the fifty-second Olympiad (568 BC).
6. Cleobulus of Lindos (6th century BC)
Philosopher – Poet – Politician – Tyrant
“moderation is best”
Detail of mosaic Cleobulus of Lindos (6th century BC) – 2nd or 3rd century C.E. – Baalbeck (Heliopopolis) – National Museum in Beirut
Cleobulus, a renowned poet, was a citizen of Lindos, on the island of Rhodes, who went on to study philosophy in Egypt.
People spoke extremely highly of Cleobulus; Clement of Alexandria is said to have called Cleobulus king of the Lindians, whilst Plutarch, philosopher and historian, referred to him as him as the tyrant.
As well as lyrical poetry and riddles in verse, Cleobulus is remembered for the complex word puzzles he created.
Quote from Cleobulus of Lindos
Cleobulus had a daughter, Cleobulina, who became a famous poet, who, like her father, composed complex poetic riddles and puzzles, in hexameter verse.
T he fact that he encouraged and supported his daughter Cleobulina, in her poetic career as well as promoting education for women, and of women and suggested only educated women should be eligible for marriage, caused Cleobulus to be considered rather controversial for his time.
Cleobulus eventually became the ruler of Lindos City, which he ruled for more than forty years before dying at the age of seventy.
7. Periander of Corinth (c. 627 – 587 BC)
Cruel and Harsh Ruler – One of the Most Famous Tyrants of Ancient Greece
“practice makes perfect”
Detail of mosaic depicting Periander of Corinth (c. 627 – 587 BC) – 2nd or 3rd century C.E. – Baalbeck (Heliopopolis) – National Museum in Beirut
Periander was the second tyrant of the Cypselid dynasty that ruled over ancient Corinth.
With his administrative skills, Periander made Corinth one of the wealthiest city states and one of the major trading centers of Ancient Greece
Some accounts state Periander was a cruel and harsh ruler, whilst others claim that he was a fair and just ruler, who made sure the wealth of Corinth was evenly distributed.
He established many colonies, conquered Epidaurus, formed good relationships with Miletus and Lydia, and annexed Corfu.
Quote from Periander of Corinth
It was Periander who inventing a transport system, the Diolkos, across the Isthmus of Corinth.
With the tolls received from goods entering Corinth’s port, Periander built temples and other public works, as well as using some of the takings to promote literature and arts.
Periander himself was said to be a patron of literature, who both wrote and valued early philosophy.
Diogenes Laertius, biographer of the Greek philosophers, tells a story about the death of Periander, who did not want anyone to know where he was buried:
“He ordered two young men to go out at night by a certain road which he pointed out to them; they were to kill the man they met and bury him. He afterwards ordered four more to go in pursuit of the two, kill them and bury them; again, he dispatched a larger number in pursuit of the four. Having taken these measures, he himself encountered the first pair and was slain.”
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