Epimenides

Epimenides (Greek Ἐπιμενίδης ) lived in the 5th, 6th or 7th century BC Knossos in Crete and Athens. He was a philosopher and famous seer and purification priest ( " Kath Arte " ) of his time, as well as a contemporary of the Seven Sages, to which he is also expected. He is also referred to as pre-Socratic.

Life and work

He belonged to the enthusiastic cult of Zeus and the Curetes, which in Crete a secret wisdom of the priests was connected. It should be also once slept in the cave Diktäischen at Knossos and woke up after 57 years.

His advice was even sought after by States. He caused changes in the sacred rites of the Athenians and led simplicity and moderation in Athens; he also said to have been the inventor of the plow. As a reward, he is said to have requested a branch of the sacred olive tree at the castle. The altar of the " unknown god " in Athens, the apostle Paul mentioned in his speech at the Areopagus centuries later, was erected on the initiative of Epimenides out.

The Spartans will take him trapped in a war with Knossos and because he prophesied to them only misfortune, have executed and buried in Argos. Epimenides was also often born again, and it was just a fabulous age rumored, the information -rich 150-299 years. He is credited with several poems and prose writings, one of which might really derive some oracles and Sühnlieder from him.

It is not certain whether the ascribed seal was actually written by him or published under his name. Get some fragments of his statements and writings from the works of other ancient writers such as Aelian, Pausanias, Plutarch or Philodemus.

The most famous is a hexameter, which is quoted anonymously in the Epistle to Titus 1:12 and was ascribed to 200 AD by Clement of Alexandria Epimenides:

The fact that Cretans lie, mentioned earlier poem "Ad iovem " of Callimachus of Cyrene in the third / fourth Century BC, but without citation and reference to Epimenides. The hexameter is also quoted in a quatrain from the poem " Cretica ", but this is a spurious later construction. The verse became important in logic because it is related to the liar paradox; he is there in the simplified reformulation " Epimenides the Cretan said: All Cretans are liars " paradox of Epimenides as referenced.

Also some cosmogonic doctrines were attributed to Epimenides.

Reception

On the myth of Epimenides ' sleep linked Goethe patriotic festival " Des Epimenides awakening" to.

The lunar crater Epimenides was named after him in 1935.