Chilon was the son of Damagetus, and lived towards the beginning of the 6th century BC. Herodotus[1] speaks of him as contemporary with Hippocrates, the father ofPeisistratus. Diogenes Laërtius states that he was an old man in the 52nd Olympiad (572 BC), and that he was elected an ephor (overseer) in Sparta in the 56th Olympiad (556/5 BC). Alcidamas states that he was a member of the Spartan assembly.[2] Diogenes Laërtius even goes so far as to claim that Chilon was also the first person who introduced the custom of joining the ephors to the kings as their counselors.[3]
Fictional portrait of Chilon by Luca Giordano (ca. 1660)
Chilon is said to have helped to overthrow the tyranny at Sicyon, which became a Spartan ally. He is also credited with the change in Spartan policy leading to the development of the Peloponnesian League in the sixth century BC.[4] Another legend claims that he died of joy when his son gained the prize for boxing at the Olympic games,[5] and that his funeral was attended by all the Greeks assembled at the festival.[3]
Chilon of Sparta also said the famous Ancient Greek proverb: "Το λακωνίζειν εστί φιλοσοφείν", in English "less is more", or "brevity is the soul of wit", or "brevity is a way of philosophy", which means that the best way of being a philosopher is through brevity and describes the Spartans' way of thinking and attitude. Diogenes Laërtius describes him as a writer of elegiac poems, and attributes many sayings to him:[3]
"Do not speak evil of the dead."
"Honor old age."
"Prefer punishment to disgraceful gain; for the one is painful but once, but the other for one's whole life."
"Do not laugh at a person in misfortune."
"If one is strong be also merciful, so that one's neighbors may respect one rather than fear one."
"Learn how to regulate one's own house well."
"Do not let one's tongue outrun one's sense."
"Restrain anger."
"Do not dislike divination."
"Do not desire what is impossible."
"Do not make too much haste on one's road."
"Obey the laws."
According to an inscription at the Bath of the Seven Sages in Ostia "cunning Chilon taught to fart silently."[6]
^Hammond, N.G.L. & Scullard, H.H. (Eds.) (1970). The Oxford Classical Dictionary (p.229). Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN0-19-869117-3.
^Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Chilon" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 6 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 163.
^Ann Olga Koloski-Ostrow, The Archaeology of Sanitation in Roman Italy: Toilets, Sewers, and Water Systems, The University of North Carolina Press, 2015, p.115: in the original Latin 'Vissire tacite Chilon docuit subdolus.'
Further reading
Franz Kiechle: Chilon. In: Der Kleine Pauly, Bd. 1 (1964), Sp. 1146.
G.L. Huxley. Early Sparta, 1962
The Lives and Opinions of the Eminent Philosophers, by Diogenes Laërtius
chilon, sparta, athlete, chilon, patras, ancient, greek, Χείλων, century, spartan, seven, sages, greece, chilon, right, century, roman, mosaic, depicting, seven, sages, national, museum, beirut, contents, life, sayings, teachings, references, further, reading,. For the athlete see Chilon of Patras Chilon of Sparta Ancient Greek Xeilwn fl 6th century BC was a Spartan and one of the Seven Sages of Greece Chilon top right on a 3rd century AD Roman mosaic depicting the Seven Sages now in the National Museum of Beirut Contents 1 Life 2 Sayings and teachings 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksLife EditChilon was the son of Damagetus and lived towards the beginning of the 6th century BC Herodotus 1 speaks of him as contemporary with Hippocrates the father of Peisistratus Diogenes Laertius states that he was an old man in the 52nd Olympiad 572 BC and that he was elected an ephor overseer in Sparta in the 56th Olympiad 556 5 BC Alcidamas states that he was a member of the Spartan assembly 2 Diogenes Laertius even goes so far as to claim that Chilon was also the first person who introduced the custom of joining the ephors to the kings as their counselors 3 Fictional portrait of Chilon by Luca Giordano ca 1660 Chilon is said to have helped to overthrow the tyranny at Sicyon which became a Spartan ally He is also credited with the change in Spartan policy leading to the development of the Peloponnesian League in the sixth century BC 4 Another legend claims that he died of joy when his son gained the prize for boxing at the Olympic games 5 and that his funeral was attended by all the Greeks assembled at the festival 3 One of his descendants married king Anaxandridas II of Sparta and bore his son king Cleomenes I Modern depiction of ChilonSayings and teachings EditChilon of Sparta also said the famous Ancient Greek proverb To lakwnizein esti filosofein in English less is more or brevity is the soul of wit or brevity is a way of philosophy which means that the best way of being a philosopher is through brevity and describes the Spartans way of thinking and attitude Diogenes Laertius describes him as a writer of elegiac poems and attributes many sayings to him 3 Do not speak evil of the dead Honor old age Prefer punishment to disgraceful gain for the one is painful but once but the other for one s whole life Do not laugh at a person in misfortune If one is strong be also merciful so that one s neighbors may respect one rather than fear one Learn how to regulate one s own house well Do not let one s tongue outrun one s sense Restrain anger Do not dislike divination Do not desire what is impossible Do not make too much haste on one s road Obey the laws According to an inscription at the Bath of the Seven Sages in Ostia cunning Chilon taught to fart silently 6 References Edit Herodotus i 59 Alcidamas ap Aristotle Rhet ii 23 11 a b c Diogenes Laertius i 68 73 Hammond N G L amp Scullard H H Eds 1970 The Oxford Classical Dictionary p 229 Oxford Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 869117 3 Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Chilon Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 6 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 163 Ann Olga Koloski Ostrow The Archaeology of Sanitation in Roman Italy Toilets Sewers and Water Systems The University of North Carolina Press 2015 p 115 in the original Latin Vissire tacite Chilon docuit subdolus Further reading EditFranz Kiechle Chilon In Der Kleine Pauly Bd 1 1964 Sp 1146 G L Huxley Early Sparta 1962 The Lives and Opinions of the Eminent Philosophers by Diogenes Laertius Pliny 7 c 33 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chilon of Sparta Wikiquote has quotations related to Chilon of Sparta Laertius Diogenes 1925 The Seven Sages Chilon Lives of the Eminent Philosophers Vol 1 1 Translated by Hicks Robert Drew Two volume ed Loeb Classical Library Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Chilon of Sparta amp oldid 1093464947, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
