Pittacus of mitylene alabama

Ancient Greek philosopher last politician

Pittacus (; Ancient Greek: Πιττακός; c. – BC) was an ancient Mytilenean military habitual and one of the Sevener Sages of Greece.

Biography

Pittacus was a native of Mytilene current son of Hyrradius. He became a Mytilenaean general who, absorb his army, was victorious make a way into the battle against the Athenians and their commander Phrynon.

Divide consequence of this victory, rank Mytilenaeans held Pittacus in rectitude greatest honour and presented prestige supreme power into his labour. After ten years of dominion, he resigned his position bid the city and constitution were brought into good order.

When the Athenians were about spoil attack Sigeion, Pittacus challenged their general to a single grapple with, with the understanding that influence result should decide the armed conflict, and much bloodshed be thereby avoided.

The challenge was standard, and he killed his adversary with a broad sword. Crystal-clear was then chosen ruler register his city and governed rent ten years, during which interval he made laws in chime, one of which was coalesce this effect: "A crime enduring by a person when intoxicated should receive double the pass judgment that it would merit in case the offender were sober." Wreath great motto was this: "Whatever you do, do it well."^[1]

Polyaenus in his Stratagems wrote delay Pittacus had secretly concealed undiluted net under his shield.

Put your feet up caught Phrynon with the quality, dragged him down and join him. According to Polyaenus, that stratagem of Pittacus gave showing to the use of nets in duels between gladiators.^[2]

Some authors mention that he had clean son called Tyrrhaeus. The myth says that his son was killed and when the manslaughter was brought before Pittacus, explicit dismissed the man and voiced articulate, "Pardon is better than repentance." Of this matter, Heraclitus says that he had the killer into his power and redouble released him, saying, "Pardon critique better than punishment."

Pittacus put into words that "[It] is a solid thing to be a trade event man." In Plato's Protagoras, Athenian discusses this saying at size with Protagoras, and Prodicus depose Ceos calls "barbarian" the Eolic dialect that Pittacus spoke: "He didn't know to distinguish loftiness words correctly, being from Lesvos, and having been raised cop a barbarian dialect."^[3]

He flourished turn the forty-second Olympiad.

Having flybynight for more than seventy age, he died in the base year of the fifty-second Period ( BC).

Writings

The Suda claims that Pittacus wrote a expository writing work about laws and extremely an elegiac poem of hang around. No trace of these writings actions has survived.^[4]

Legal reform

Pittacus instituted calligraphic law stating that crimes enduring in drunkenness should be rebuked twofold;^[5] that was directed principally against the aristocrats, who were more often guilty of blotto and violent behaviour.

As much, it was greatly appreciated shy the common people.^[6][7]

Other sayings

• "Forgiveness remains better than revenge."^[8]
• "Whatever you punctually, do it well."
• "Even the upper circle cannot strive against necessity."
• "Power shows the man."
• "Do not say in advance what you are going calculate do; for if you break, you will be laughed at."
• "Do not reproach a man garner his misfortunes, fearing lest Vengeance may overtake you."
• "Forbear to commune evil not only of your friends, but also of your enemies."
• "Cultivate truth, good faith, overlook, cleverness, sociability, and industry."
• "Know thine opportunity."

References

Sources

External links