Wisdom and erudition have always been highly valued in almost all social systems. Moreover, not just the possession of knowledge, but the ability to apply it in practice at the right time was considered more priority. This is what is called wisdom. Hellas is considered to be the cradle of European culture. In this regard, it is not at all surprising that it was the sages of Ancient Greece who are considered the first to shed the light of knowledge on the then dark peoples of the Old World. It is they who are credited with systematizing the experience accumulated by mankind until then and implementing it on the example of their own lives.
Since ancient times, people have tried to highlight the most prominent representatives of humanity. Even in antiquity, the seven sages of ancient Greece were named, the personalities who, according to the Hellenes, had the largest stock of knowledge. This number was not chosen by chance. The number "seven" had a sacred and religious meaning. But if the number of geniuses remained unchanged, then their names changed depending on the time and place of the list. Several of its variants have survived to this day, in which the wise men of Ancient Greece appear.
Plato's List
According to legend,seven wise men from ancient Greece were named by name in Athens during the time of the archon Damasus in 582 BC. e. The very first and most famous list that has survived to this day was left in the 4th century BC. e. the great philosopher Plato in his dialogue Protagoras. Who was included in this list, and what made the seven wise men of Ancient Greece famous?
Thales of Miletus (640 - 546 BC)
Thales was one of the first ancient philosophers and the founder of the so-called Ionian school. He was born in the city of Miletus, located in Asia Minor, on the territory of modern Turkey, from where he got his nickname. In addition to philosophy, he achieved special knowledge in astronomy and geometry, thanks to the study of the heritage of the Egyptians and scientists of Mesopotamia. It is he who is credited with dividing the calendar year into 365 days. Unfortunately, all the thoughts and sayings of Thales of Miletus have come down to us only through the works of later philosophers.
Solon of Athens (640 - 559 BC)
Solon is a famous Athenian philosopher, poet and legislator. According to legend, he came from the royal family of Codrids, but despite this, his parents were people with a small income. Then Solon was able to get rich, and after that he became the most influential political figure in Athens. It is he who is considered the creator of democratic laws, which remained almost unchanged in this city for several centuries. Towards the end of his life, he voluntarily retired from power. Solon was also highly valued by his contemporaries as a poet.and thinker. To the question of the Lydian king Croesus, does Solon know someone happier than him, the Athenian philosopher replied that this can be judged only after the death of a person.
Biant of Priene (590 - 530 BC)
Biant is probably a more mysterious figure than the rest of the sages of Ancient Greece. Very little is known about his life. He was a judge in the city of Priene, where he became famous for his wise decisions, and once even saved his native city from the Lydian king Alliat. But when the Persian ruler Cyrus conquered his homeland, Biant had to leave the settlement without taking anything with him.
Pittacus of Mytilene (651 - 569 BC)
Pittacus was a famous sage, commander and ruler of the Asia Minor city of Mytilene. He earned the glory of a tyrant-fighter, freeing his native city from the despotism of Melanhr. Also known as an outstanding legislator. His saying that even the gods do not argue with inevitability was highly valued, like other aphorisms of the sages of Ancient Greece. Voluntarily resigned power.
All of the above thinkers and philosophers were included in the list of 7 wise men of Ancient Greece in absolutely all editions. Those who will be discussed below were included in the Platonic version of the list of the greatest people of Hellas and some other compilers. But still, they are far from being found in all the lists that include the seven wise men from Ancient Greece.
Cleobulus of Lindus (540 - 460 BC)
Cleobulus, according to one version, came from the city of Linda, on Rhodes, and according to the second, from Caria in Asia Minor. His father was Evagoras, who was considered a descendant of Hercules himself. He earned fame as a wise ruler and city planner, built a temple in Linda and built a water pipe. In addition, Cleobulus became famous as a songwriter and ingenious riddles. His daughter Cleobulina was also considered one of the most enlightened philosophers of her time.
Mison from Hyun (VI century BC)
Mison, despite the fact that his father was the ruler in Khenah or in Itiya, chose for himself a quiet and contemplative life of a philosopher, far from worldly fuss. He became most famous as the author of great sayings, some of which were worthy to be included in the number of 7 sayings of the wise men of Ancient Greece. Some experts believe that he was included by Plato in the list of the wisest people for political reasons.
Chilon from Sparta (VI century BC)
Chilon is the famous Spartan poet and legislator. He held the position of ephor. In his post, he contributed to the introduction of many progressive laws, which were later attributed to Lycurgus. Chilo's speech, according to contemporaries, was full of deep meaning, but was distinguished by brevity, a characteristic feature of most Spartans. It is he who is credited with saying that they don’t speak badly about dead people.
List of Diogenes Laertes
In addition to Plato's list, the most famous list, which includes the seven sages of ancient Greece, an outstandinghistorian of philosophy Diogenes Laertes, who lived presumably at the end of the II-beginning of the III century. AD The only difference between this list and the previous one is that instead of Mison, it includes the Corinthian tyrant Periander. Some scientists consider this list to be original, despite the fact that Diogenes lived much later than Plato. This paradox is explained by the fact that the latter, due to his rejection of tyranny, could exclude Periander from the list, and include the lesser known Mison. Diogenes used a more ancient source in his work.
The names of all the other wise men in both lists are exactly the same.
Periander of Corinth (667 - 585 BC)
Periander, the ruler of Corinth, is probably the most controversial figure of all the 7 sages of Ancient Greece. On the one hand, he was distinguished by an amazing mind, he was a great inventor and builder who modernized the portage across the isthmus that separated the Peloponnesian peninsula from the mainland, and then began to build a canal through it. In addition, Periander patronized the arts, and also significantly strengthened the army, which allowed Corinth to rise like never before. But on the other hand, historians characterize him as a typical cruel tyrant, especially in the second half of his reign.
According to legend, Periander died from the fact that he could not bear the death of his son, to which he himself doomed him.
Other lists
In the lists of other authors, only the names of Thales, Solon, Biant and Pittacus remain unchanged. Personalities of other sagesmay vary and differ significantly from the two classic versions.
Akusilai (VI century BC) - a Hellenic historian who lived before Herodotus. Dorian by origin. Tradition ascribes to him the first historical work written in prose.
Anaxagoras (500 - 428 BC) - philosopher and famous mathematician from Asia Minor. He also practiced astronomy. Tried to explain the structure of the universe.
Anacharsis (605 - 545 BC) - Scythian sage. He was personally acquainted with Solon and the Lydian king Croesus. He is credited with the invention of the anchor, the sail and the potter's wheel. In addition, Anacharsis is known for his valuable sayings. He was killed by the Scythians for adopting Hellenic customs. The reality of its existence is questioned by many scientists.
Pythagoras (570 - 490 BC) - a famous ancient Greek philosopher and geometer. It is to him that the famous theorem on the equality of angles in a right triangle is attributed. In addition, he is the founder of the philosophical school, which later adopted the name Pythagoreanism. Died of his own death in old age.
In addition, among those who were recorded in the sages of Ancient Greece, one can name the names of Forekidas, Aristodemus, Lina, Ephora, Las, Epimenides, Leophantus, Pamphilus, Epicharmus, Peisistratus and Orpheus.
Principles for listing
It can be concluded that the Greeks included representatives of various occupations in the list of the wisest people, but most often they were philosophers. Although, in fact, they could combine this subject with another important occupation - the study of mathematics, astronomy,science, government. However, almost all sciences of that time were inextricably linked with philosophy.
These lists could vary significantly and differ from the two so-called classic versions. In many ways, the specific names included in them depended on the place of residence and political views of the compiler. So, Plato, apparently, precisely for these reasons, excluded the Corinthian tyrant Periander from among the great sages.
Greeks were not always present in the lists of great thinkers. Representatives of other peoples were sometimes included there, such as the Hellenized Scythian Anacharsis.
Importance of the topic these days
Certainly, the attempt of the Greeks to single out the most prominent representatives from their number and systematize them is one of the first of its kind in the ancient world. By studying this list, we can judge which personal qualities were considered the most significant in the ancient world and were associated with wisdom. It is important to familiarize yourself with these ideas of the Hellenes in order to be able to look through the eyes of a modern person at the evolution of this concept over many centuries.
In Russia, a separate topic is allocated for the study of this aspect in the school course - “The Wise Men of Ancient Greece”. Grade 5 is the optimal period of study for understanding such fundamental questions.
