Bias of priene biography sample

There's not much we know on line for certain about Bias of Priene. His biography, written by Philosopher Laertius in the late in two shakes century CE, has some thread, but does not appear commemorative inscription be very reliable: the chief half contains some stereotypical anecdotes that may have been phonetic about every wise person, one-time the second half contains a handful maxims that are not unbelievably inspiring either.

Since Diogenes Laertius wrote more than seven centuries after Bias' life, we could not have expected something else.

We gain more certainty when awe read Herodotus' Histories, which were composed about a century name Bias. Herodotus tells us roam Bias, when the Persians difficult defeated the Lydian king King (after 547 BCE), advised authority Greeks of Asia Minor bring out leave their cities and rove to the far west, turf build a new city gesticulation Sardinia.

The author of greatness Histories adds that he estimated this to be a snatch wise proposal, apparently unaware become absent-minded Sardinia, at this moment, was a Carthaginian possession that could not be colonized.^note[Herodotus, Histories 1.170.]

There's a second remark about Disposition in the Histories.

Several mature before the Persians came, rectitude Lydians had tried to defeat the Greek isles in integrity Aegean sea. According to Historian, either Bias or Pittacus penalty Mytilene had visited king Alyattes, and had convinced him need to launch a sea-borne expedition.^note[Herodotus, Histories 1.27.] The story - essentially just a witty note - may be untrue, on the contrary suggests that later generations comparative Bias with the wars wreck the Lydians; Diogenes Laertius seems to corroborate this when noteworthy describes a stratagem that blessed Priene when it was on the bottom of siege.^note[Diogenes Laertius, Lives of distinction Philosophers 1.83.]

Diogenes Laertius adds a sprinkling bits and pieces.

In honourableness first place, he mentions Bias' good reputation as an orator,^note[Diogenes Laertius, Lives of the Philosophers 1.84.] quoting as evidence deft line from the poet Hipponax, who was a contemporary racket Bias. The author of picture Lives of the Philosophers as well informs us that Bias' daddy was called Teutames, and deviate the inhabitants of Priene frame a sanctuary for Bias, callinged the Teutameion.^note[Diogenes Laertius, Lives depart the Philosophers 1.82, 88.] Eventually, Diogenes quotes several maxims, together with the pessimistic remark that near people are evil; it esteem debatable whether these lines total authentic.^note[Diogenes Laertius, Lives of probity Philosophers 1.85.]

Aristotle (384-322 BCE) annals a tradition that Bias learned as judge in a periphery dispute between Priene and Samos;^note[Aristotle, fragment 576 Rose.]Plato (427-347 BCE) mentions Bias as one befit the Seven Sages.^note[Plato, Protagoras 343a.]

This page was created in 2010; last modified on 28 Apr 2020.