Seven Sages of Greece

The Seven Sages (of Greece) or Seven Wise Men (Greek: οἱ ἑπτὰ σοφοί hoi hepta sophoi) was the title given by classical Greek tradition to seven philosophers, statesmen, and law-givers of the 7–6th century BCE who were renowned for their wisdom. Typically the list of the seven sages includes: Thales of Miletus ( 624 BCE-546 BCE) is the first well-known Greek philosopher, mathematician, and astronomer. The ancient biographer Diogenes Laertius attributes the aphorism, "Know thyself", engraved on the front facade of the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, to Thales, although there was no ancient consensus on this attribution. Pittacus of Mytilene ( 640 BCE-568 BCE) governed Mytilene (Lesbos). He tried to reduce the power of the nobility and was able to govern with the support of the demos, whom he favoured. Bias of Priene ( 6th century BC) was a politician and legislator of the 6th century BCE. Solon of Athens ( 638 BCE-558 BCE) was a famous legislator and reformer from Athens, framing the laws that shaped the Athenian democracy. The fifth and sixth sage are variously given as two of: Cleobulus, tyrant of Lindos (600 BCE), reported as either the grandfather or father-in-law of Thales; Periander of Corinth (b. before 634 BCE, d. 585 BCE); Myson of Chenae (6th century BCE); Anacharsis the Scythian (6th century BCE). Chilon of Sparta (555 BCE) was a Spartan politician to whom the militarization of Spartan society was attributed. Diogenes Laërtius points out, however, that there was among his sources great disagreement over which figures should be counted among the seven. Perhaps the two most common substitutions were to exchange Periander or Anacharsis for Myson. On Diogenes' first list of seven, which he introduces with the words "These men are acknowledged wise", Periander appears instead of Myson; the same substitution appears in The Masque of the Seven Sages by Ausonius. Both Ephorus and Plutarch (in his Banquet of the Seven Sages) substituted Anacharsis for Myson.