27. The Seven Wise Men of Ancient Greece
Ancient Greek tradition bestowed the title “Seven Wise Men” or “Seven Sages” on seven statesmen, lawgivers, and philosophers, who lived circa the sixth century BC. They include Pittacus of Mytilene (circa 640 BC – circa 568 BC). A general who ruled the island of Lesbos, Pittacus tried to reduce the power of the aristocracy and governed with the support of the commoners. Another was Thales of Miletus (circa 624 BC – circa 546 BC), a philosopher, mathematician, and astronomer whose advice “know thyself” was engraved on the Temple of Apollo in Delphi. The wise men’s numbers include Bias of Priene (flourished sixth century BC) a skilled advocate known for his probity and defense of what was right.
Chilon of Sparta, who also flourished in the sixth century BC, was a politician who played a key role in establishing the militarized structure of the classical Spartan state, and coined a proverb that translates as “brevity is the soul of wit“. Solon (630 BC – 560 BC) was a reformist legislator who established the framework for what became Athenian democracy. Opinions differed about the sixth and seventh sages. They are variously given as two of the philosopher Anacharsis the Scythian (flourished sixth century BC); Cleobulus, tyrant of Lindos (flourished circa 600 BC); Periander, tyrant of Corinth (circa 634 BC – circa 585 BC); and the philosopher Myson of Chenae (flourished sixth century BC).
