Seven Sages of Greece

The Seven Wise Men (Greek οἱ ἑπτὰ σοφοί hoi hepta sophoí ) are one of the posterity so designated group of public figures in Greek antiquity ( late 7th and 6th centuries BC).

The traditional lists contain partially different people. The seven sages were especially known for their wisdom sayings. Most of them were statesmen; as such, they enjoyed high reputation. They belonged to the era of pre-Socratic philosophy, but were not largely or not primarily philosophers in the strict sense of the term. Since they were considered contemporaries, meetings were attributed to them.

Affiliation

In Plato, the Seven Sages are first specifically mentioned. In his dialogue Protagoras ( 343a ) he enumerates them:

It is disputed whether the idea of ​​such Sevens list of Plato himself, or whether it was based on a popular tradition of the sixth or early fifth century. The individual names are also used in older sources before, most already in Herodotus, but they appear not there yet as a group.

Prominent were mainly Thales as a natural philosopher and mathematician and Solon as a legislator. All lists contain Thales, Solon, Bias, and Pittacus, and most Cleobulus and Chilo. Myson was a pale figure for posterity and came from an unknown village. Probably for this reason, he was replaced in a list at Demetrios of Phalerum, a pupil of Aristotle, first appears by Periander of Corinth. According to another, represented in antiquity hypothesis vice versa replaced Plato already existing in a original version, but politically unpopular because of his tyrannical rule Periander by Myson. The list of Demetrius, consisting of Thales, Pittacus, Bias, Solon, Cleobulus, Chilo and Periander, was in ancient times, the most widely used and is still popular today.

In addition there were circulating other lists that take Myson or Periander and partly also held Chilo and Cleobulus contained other names. Sometimes the following individuals to the Seven Sages were counted:

Chance also other names were mentioned.

Maxims and Proverbs

Beyond the policy merits to their hometowns for the glory of the wise contributed particularly the maxims and wise sayings that have been attributed to them. Speakers they quoted in politics and in court. Plato praised the tight and intricately worded sayings, the gnomes, as an outstanding fruits of the wisdom of the seven men.

After the prologue of the Ludus Septem Sapientum ( The Game of the Seven Sages ) of the Roman poet Ausonius occurs a Ludius (a " funny person " ), which lists the known sayings of the Seven Sages:

Delphis Solonem scripse fama est Atticum: γνῶθι σεαυτόν, quod est Latinum: nosce te. multi hoc Laconis eat Chilonis putant. Spartane Chilo, sit tuum necne ambigunt, iuxta quod Fertur: ὅρα τέλος μακροῦ βίου, finem vitae intueri longae qui iubes. multi hoc Solonem dixe Croeso existimant. et Pittacum dixisse fama est Lesbium: γίγνωσκε καιρόν; tempus ut noris iubet. sed iste καιρός tempestivum tempus est. Bias Prieneus dixit: οἱ πλεῖστοι κακοί, quod est Latinum: plures hominum sunt mali: sed inperitos scito, quos dixit malos. μελέτη τὸ πᾶν, Periandri id est Corinthii: meditationem posse totum qui Putat. ἄριστον μέτρον esse dicit Lindius Cleobulus; hoc est: optimus cunctis mode. Thales sed ἐγγύα, πάρα δ ἄτα protulit. Spondere qui nos, noxa est quia preS, vetat. hoc nos monere faeneratis non placet. dixi, recedam, legifer venit Solon.

In Delphi, say 's, Solon wrote of Athens γνῶθι σεαυτόν to German: know thyself. But some people think that this is Chilons word. Spartan Chilo, even drum is argued, Whether your is the other saying: ὅρα τέλος μακροῦ βίου, which is ascribed to you, since you Commandest end of a long life Only to be seen. Many also believe That Solon to Croesus once said this. But Pittacus of Lesbos, is said to have Said: γίγνωσκε καιρόν and exhorts: Detect the time - καιρός is ' right time '. And Bias of Priene said οἱ πλεῖστοι κακοί, that is, German: most people Are bad; - Understand ', the gates he calls bad. - And Periander of Corinth: μελέτη τὸ πᾶν; Wisely, he says, by virtue of everything. ἄριστον μέτρον taught Cleobulus From Linda - German: Best of the measure. And Thales said ἐγγύα, πάρα δ ἄτα; He warns of guarantee, as it brings harm. To him who borrows, though displeased with this reminder. I have spoken, cede; and Solon, Who gave the laws, occurs.

Among other things, the following messages were frequently quoted in both the domestic as well as in the public sector:

  • Ἐγγύα πάρα δἄτα.
  • Do not dress up your appearance, but is beautiful in your deeds
  • What you are doing good parents, the expected even at the age of your children.
  • Do not be lazy, even if you have money.
  • Better envied than pitied.
  • Μηδὲν ἄγαν.
  • Do not sit in judgment, or you will be an enemy to the convicted.
  • Flee the pleasure that gives birth displeasure.
  • Have no more right than your parents.
  • Learn to obey and you'll know to rule.
  • Γνῶθι σεαυτόν.
  • At the feasts of friends go slow, fast to their misfortune.
  • Let your tongue does not run ahead of your mind.
  • Do not move while talking the hand; it looks like you're crazy.
  • When you wrong conciliatory, with impudence defend yourself.
  • Γίγνωσκε καιρόν.
  • What you're doing, do not say; because you do not manage it, you'll ridiculed.
  • What do you verdenkst neighbor, himself will not.
  • Do not speak ill of your friend and not well of your enemy, because such would be illogical.
  • Reliable is the land, the sea unreliable.
  • οἱ πλεῖστοι κακοί.
  • Look in the mirror: if you look beautiful, you have to do Beautiful; if ugly, you have to compensate by Edelsein the lack of nature.
  • Go slowly to work; but what you started, which persevere.
  • Profits by persuasion, not by force.
  • What did you do good, write to the gods, not you.
  • Μέτρον ἄριστον.
  • Much listen and do not talk much.
  • Viewing the enemy of the people as the enemy.
  • Marry from the same registry; of better status you win Gentlemen, no relatives.
  • In happiness is not proud, not be low in disguise.
  • Μελέτη τὸ πᾶν.
  • Everything is exercise.
  • The pleasures are perishable, the immortal virtues.
  • Scold so that you can be quickly re- friend.
  • Stick to old laws, but to fresh food.

Plutarch's Banquet of the Seven Sages

The Wisdom Treasure of the Seven Sages played a role in philosophical discussions about the best state. Plutarch goes on in his dialogue The Banquet of the Seven Wise Men:

On the question of the best state the Seven Sages responded differently:

On the question of the best house answered six of the Seven Sages:

Reception

The belief that an optimal state steering the council of wise men need, has survived to the present day. The name of the (seven) modes is used for advisory boards of various kinds. For example, there was until recently the annual Economic Report of the "Seven Wise Men". In a project of Expo 02 "The Seven Wise Men" was a group of seven scientists, artists and representatives of political bodies commissioned to explore the thoughts, feelings and actions of Swiss citizens.

Source collections

  • Jochen Althoff, Dieter Zeller ( eds. ): The Words of the Seven Sages, Greek / German, University Press, Darmstadt 2006 [ compilation and translation of Proverbs with commentary and investigations ]
  • Herwig Görgemanns: Greek literature in text and illustration, Vol 1: Archaic Period, ed. Joachim Latacz, 2nd edition, Stuttgart 1998
  • Bruno Snell: The Life and Opinions of the Seven Sages. Greek and Latin sources, Heimeran -Verlag, Munich 1952
  • Maria Tziatzi - Papagianni: The sayings of the seven wise men: two Byzantine collections; Introduction, Text, testimonies and comments ( Contributions to the Archaeology 51), Teubner, Stuttgart 1994, ISBN 3-519-07600-4, ( Diss, Univ. Hamburg 1992)
Protagoras (dialogue) Myson of Chenae Peisistratos Gnome (rhetoric) Integrated Authority File
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