Chilon of Sparta
Chilon of Sparta (also known as Cheilon of Lacedaemon , Greek Χείλων ὁ Λακεδαιμόνιος ) was 556/555 (?) BC. Spartan ephor and constitutional reformer and was (after Plato ) one of the seven wise men of ancient Greece.
Effect and aftermath
Its heyday was around the 55th and 56th. Olympiad (560/556 BC). Through his legislative influence he is said to have brought about the emergence of the classic Sparta (strict co-operativeization of the Spartians , militarization of the polis , tyrannical strengthening of the ephorate against the dual kingship , hostility to art).
The saying "Know yourself" ( γνῶθι σεαυτόν , gnóthi seautón ) is said to come from him on one of the Delphic temples of Apollo. He is also considered the originator of the Latin de mortuis nil nisi bonum denominated Gnome "About the dead (talking about) only benevolent".
A heroon was dedicated to him in Sparta ( Pausanias 3,16,4). Diogenes Laertios mentions him in his work on the philosophers. Moreover, its effectiveness is difficult to assess and is also contested (Thommen 2003: 59-61).
Chilon would thus belong to the " Axial Age " ( Karl Jaspers ), in which - not only as in the Mediterranean Solon , the Decemviri or Esra - numerous legislators had a great aftereffect.
Quotes
The philosopher Demetrios von Phaleron ascribes the following sayings to him. " Chilon, son of Damagetos, from Lacedaemon said " ( γ (172, 33) Χείλων Δαμαγήτου Λακεδαιμόνιος ἔφη ):
- 1. Know yourself. Γνῶθι σεαυτόν.
- 2. Don't talk much while drinking; you will regret it. Πίνων, μὴ πολλὰ λάλει · ἁμαρτήσῃ γάρ.
- 5. Go slowly to friends' parties, but quickly to their misfortune. ᾿Επὶ τὰ δεῖπνα τῶν φίλων βραδέως πορεύου, ἐπὶ δὲ τὰς ἀτυχίας ταχέως.
- 6. Don't give expensive weddings. Γάμους εὐτελεῖς ποιοῦ.
- 7. Praise the dead happy. Τὸν τετελευτηκότα μακάριζε.
- 8. Honor the elders. Πρεσβύτερον σέβου.
- 10. Take loss rather than gain bad gain; because that one hurts once, this one always. Ζημίαν αἱροῦ μᾶλλον ἢ κέρδος αἰσχρόν τὸ μὲν γὰρ ἅπαξ λυπήσει, τὸ δὲ ἀεί.
- 11. Do not laugh at an unfortunate person. Τῷ δυστυχοῦντι μὴ ἐπιγέλα.
- 11. Don't let your tongue run ahead of your mind. Ἠ γλῶσσά σου μὴ προτρεχέτω τοῦ νοῦ.
- 15. Control anger. Θυμοῦ κράτει.
- 16. Don't strive for the impossible. Μὴ ἐπιθύμει ἀδύνατα.
- 17. On the road, do not hurry to overtake (others), do not move your hand (wave); because (it's) crazy. ᾿Ἐν ὁδῷ μὴ σπεῦδε προάγειν, μηδὲ τὴν χεῖρα κινεῖν μανικὸν γάρ.
- 19. Obey the law. Νόμοις πείθου.
- 20. If you are wrong, make up for yourself, if you are cheeky defend yourself. Ἀδικούμενος διαλλάσσου · ὑβριζόμενος τιμωροῦ.
Quote according to Diogenes Laertius :
Do not speak ill of the dead, honor old age. Τὸν τεθνηκότα μὴ κακολογεῖν, γῆρας τιμᾶν. (Ton tethnēkota mē kakologein, gēras tīmān.)
literature
- Franz Kiechle : Chilon. In: The Little Pauly . Volume 1: Aachen to Dichalkon. Druckmüller, Stuttgart 1964, column 1146.
- Lukas Thommen : Sparta. Constitutional and social history of a Greek polis. JB Metzler, Stuttgart / Weimar 2003, ISBN 3-476-01964-0 .
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ Translation by Bruno Snell
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Chilon of Sparta |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Cheilon of Lacedemonies |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Legislator of classic Sparta |
| DATE OF BIRTH | before 556 BC Chr. |
| DATE OF DEATH | after 555 BC Chr. |