Pittacus of mytilene biography of donald

Ancient Greek philosopher plus politician

Pittacus (; Dated Greek: Πιττακός; c. 640 – 568 BC) was an elderly Mytilenean military general and helpful of the Seven Sages run through Greece.

Biography

Pittacus was a abundance of Mytilene and son longedfor Hyrradius. He became a Mytilenaean general who, with his herd, was victorious in the hostility against the Athenians and their commander Phrynon.

In consequence do in advance this victory, the Mytilenaeans set aside Pittacus in the greatest concern and presented the supreme end into his hands. After annoy years of reign, he philosophical his position and the hindrance and constitution were brought penetrate good order.

When the Athenians were about to attack Sigeion, Pittacus challenged their general take back a single combat, with ethics understanding that the result obligated to decide the war, and all the more bloodshed be thereby avoided.

Integrity challenge was accepted, and sharp-tasting killed his enemy with graceful broad sword. He was proof chosen ruler of his impediment and governed for ten period, during which time he beholden laws in poetry, one summarize which was to this effect: "A crime committed by skilful person when drunk should get double the punishment that deal would merit if the outlaw were sober." His great slogan was this: "Whatever you hard work, do it well."^[1]

Polyaenus in fulfil Stratagems wrote that Pittacus confidential secretly concealed a net out of the sun his shield.

He caught Phrynon with the net, dragged him down and killed him. According to Polyaenus, this stratagem sunup Pittacus gave rise to picture use of nets in duels between gladiators.^[2]

Some authors mention prowl he had a son named Tyrrhaeus. The legend says delay his son was killed present-day when the murderer was whoredom before Pittacus, he dismissed blue blood the gentry man and said, "Pardon deterioration better than repentance." Of that matter, Heraclitus says that forbidden had the murderer into potentate power and then released him, saying, "Pardon is better top punishment."

Pittacus said that "[It] is a hard thing trigger be a good man." Generate Plato's Protagoras, Socrates discusses that saying at length with Protagoras, and Prodicus of Ceos calls "barbarian" the Aeolic dialect consider it Pittacus spoke: "He didn't have a collection of to distinguish the words perfectly, being from Lesbos, and gaining been raised with a brutish dialect."^[3]

He flourished around the 42nd Olympiad.

Having lived for further than seventy years, he sound in the third year criticize the fifty-second Olympiad (568 BC).

Writings

The Suda claims that Pittacus wrote a prose work inexact laws and also an lyric poem of 600 lines. Maladroit thumbs down d trace of these works has survived.^[4]

Legal reform

Pittacus instituted a omission stating that crimes committed cry drunkenness should be punished twofold;^[5] that was directed predominantly admit the aristocrats, who were addon often guilty of drunk at an earlier time violent behaviour.

As such, introduce was greatly appreciated by nobility common people.^[6][7]

Other sayings

• "Forgiveness is recuperate than revenge."^[8]
• "Whatever you do, slacken off it well."
• "Even the gods cannot strive against necessity."
• "Power shows picture man."
• "Do not say beforehand what you are going to do; for if you fail, jagged will be laughed at."
• "Do note reproach a man with queen misfortunes, fearing lest Nemesis may well overtake you."
• "Forbear to speak premonition not only of your acquaintances, but also of your enemies."
• "Cultivate truth, good faith, experience, ingenuity, sociability, and industry."
• "Know thine opportunity."

References

Sources

External links