Xenophilus of Chalcidice

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Fantasy picture of Xenophilus in Schedel's world chronicle , 15th century

Xenophilos of Chalkidike ( Greek  Ξενόφιλος Xenóphilos ; † in Athens ) was a philosopher and music theorist from the school of the Pythagoreans , the follower of the philosopher Pythagoras . He lived in the 4th century BC. Chr.

Life and teaching

Xenophilus was one of the teachers of the music theorist and philosopher Aristoxenus . Because of its origin from the Chalkidike peninsula , it was called "Xenophilos the Chalkidier". According to a tradition going back to Aristoxenus, he was a student of the philosophers Philolaos and Eurytus and was one of the "last Pythagoreans" with whom the tradition of the Pythagorean school died out. Aristoxenus claims that Xenophilos was over 105 years old and that his health and professional competence have been preserved into old age.

Nothing is known about the writings of Xenophilus. Nothing has been handed down from his teaching except for a saying that the doxographer Diogenes Laertios quotes with reference to Aristoxenus. Accordingly, Xenophilus replied to a questioner who wanted to know how he could best raise his son: "By making sure that he becomes a citizen of a well-governed state."

reception

Xenophilus owed his fame in antiquity to his legendary longevity in the preservation of health and manpower. For the picture that one made of him, the statements of Aristoxenos were decisive. Pseudo- Lukian , Valerius Maximus and Pliny the Elder mention the age of (over) 105 years that he is said to have reached. In the Renaissance he was one of the well-known ancient personalities; Rabelais mentions him in the preface to Book 5 by Gargantua and Pantagruel , Montaigne refers to his longevity in full health.

swell

  • Maria Timpanaro Cardini : Pitagorici. Testimonianze e frammenti . Vol. 2, La Nuova Italia, Firenze 1962, pp. 422-425 (Greek and Latin source texts with Italian translation)

literature

  • Constantinos Macris: Xénophile de Chalcidique ou de Cyzique. In: Richard Goulet (ed.): Dictionnaire des philosophes antiques. Volume 7, CNRS Éditions, Paris 2018, ISBN 978-2-271-09024-9 , pp. 220–226

Remarks

  1. ^ Pseudo-Lukian, Makrobioi 18, with reference to Aristoxenus.
  2. ↑ Aristoxenus, fragment 19 = Diogenes Laertios 8.46; Aristoxenos, fragment 18 = Iamblichos , De vita Pythagorica 251.
  3. ↑ Diogenes Laertios 8:16.
  4. ↑ Valerius Maximus 8:13 ext. 3; Pliny, Naturalis historia 7,168; Pseudo-Lukian, Makrobioi 18.
  5. ↑ Montaigne, Essais , Book 1, Chapter 19: Que philosopher, c'est apprendre à mourir ( online ).
personal data
SURNAME Xenophilus of Chalcidice
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Xenophilus the Chalcidians; Xenophilus chalcidensis
BRIEF DESCRIPTION ancient Greek philosopher (Pythagorean)
DATE OF BIRTH 5th century BC BC or 4th century BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH 4th century BC BC or 3rd century BC Chr.
Place of death Athens