Cleombrotos of Ambrakia
Kleombrotos of Ambrakia ( Greek Κλεόμβροτος Kleómbrotos ) was an ancient Greek philosopher . He came from Ambrakia, today's Arta in Epirus .
Cleombrotos lived in the late 5th and early 4th centuries BC. Supposedly he fell to his death from a high wall or a roof after reading Plato's dialogue Phaedo , which deals with the immortality of the soul . He wanted to change into a better life, although suicide is expressly rejected in the Phaedo . The starting point of this tradition is an epigram by the poet Callimachos .
The Phaedo reader Cleombrotus, who allegedly died, is probably identical to the eponymous student of Socrates whom Plato mentions in Phaedo . There it is reported that Cleombrotos was not present at the execution of Socrates because he was staying on the island of Aegina .
Allusions to the death of Cleombrotus were common in ancient Greek literature. Cicero mentioned it repeatedly and thus made it known to a reading public who only spoke Latin. He mistakenly called him Theombrotus ; Cleombrotus was known by this name to the late antique church fathers who relied on Cicero's information.
literature
- Jean-Marie Flamand: Cléombrotos d'Ambracie. In: Richard Goulet (ed.): Dictionnaire des philosophes antiques. Volume 2, CNRS Éditions, Paris 1994, ISBN 2-271-05195-9 , pp. 433-436
Remarks
- ↑ Callimachus, Epigram 23.
- ^ Plato, Phaedo 59c.
- ↑ Cicero, Pro Scauro 4 and Tusculanae disputationes 1.84.
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Cleombrotos of Ambrakia |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | ancient Greek philosopher |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 5th century BC Chr. |
| DATE OF DEATH | 4th century BC Chr. |