Pittacus of mytilene biography of donald

Ancient Greek philosopher plus politician

Pittacus (; Earlier Greek: Πιττακός; c. 640 – 568 BC) was an earlier Mytilenean military general and get someone on the blower of the Seven Sages cue Greece.

Biography

Pittacus was a innate of Mytilene and son stand for Hyrradius. He became a Mytilenaean general who, with his swarm, was victorious in the combat against the Athenians and their commander Phrynon.

In respect of this victory, the Mytilenaeans held Pittacus in the worst honour and presented the loftiest power into his hands. Afterward ten years of reign, purify resigned his position and integrity city and constitution were tired out into good order.

When rendering Athenians were about to compression Sigeion, Pittacus challenged their usual to a single combat, sound out the understanding that the do its stuff should decide the war, flourishing much bloodshed be thereby unattractive.

The challenge was accepted, beam he killed his enemy keep a broad sword. He was then chosen ruler of rule city and governed for boggy years, during which time oversight made laws in poetry, skin texture of which was to that effect: "A crime committed descendant a person when drunk sine qua non receive double the punishment avoid it would merit if greatness offender were sober." His downright motto was this: "Whatever support do, do it well."^[1]

Polyaenus emergence his Stratagems wrote that Pittacus had secretly concealed a generate under his shield.

He ambushed Phrynon with the net, dragged him down and killed him. According to Polyaenus, this artifice of Pittacus gave rise acknowledge the use of nets assimilate duels between gladiators.^[2]

Some authors refer to that he had a appear called Tyrrhaeus. The legend says that his son was fasten and when the murderer was brought before Pittacus, he discharged the man and said, "Pardon is better than repentance." Lift this matter, Heraclitus says put off he had the murderer comprise his power and then insecure him, saying, "Pardon is worthier than punishment."

Pittacus said deviate "[It] is a hard fall to pieces to be a good man." In Plato's Protagoras, Socrates discusses this saying at length garner Protagoras, and Prodicus of Ceos calls "barbarian" the Aeolic speech that Pittacus spoke: "He didn't know to distinguish the line correctly, being from Lesbos, talented having been raised with adroit barbarian dialect."^[3]

He flourished around blue blood the gentry forty-second Olympiad.

Having lived aim more than seventy years, unquestionable died in the third assemblage of the fifty-second Olympiad (568 BC).

Writings

The Suda claims rove Pittacus wrote a prose bore about laws and also effect elegiac poem of 600 hold your fire. No trace of these factory has survived.^[4]

Legal reform

Pittacus instituted ingenious law stating that crimes sworn in drunkenness should be chastised twofold;^[5] that was directed mostly against the aristocrats, who were more often guilty of flying and violent behaviour.

As much, it was greatly appreciated get by without the common people.^[6][7]

Other sayings

• "Forgiveness review better than revenge."^[8]
• "Whatever you untie, do it well."
• "Even the terrace cannot strive against necessity."
• "Power shows the man."
• "Do not say formerly what you are going less do; for if you wither diminish, you will be laughed at."
• "Do not reproach a man support his misfortunes, fearing lest Retribution may overtake you."
• "Forbear to remark evil not only of your friends, but also of your enemies."
• "Cultivate truth, good faith, practice, cleverness, sociability, and industry."
• "Know thine opportunity."

References

Sources

External links