Chilon of Sparta ( grc, Χείλων) (fl. 6th century BC) was a

Spartan Sparta ( Doric Greek: Σπάρτα, ''Spártā''; Attic Greek: Σπάρτη, ''Spártē'') was a prominent city-state in Laconia, in ancient Greece. In antiquity, the city-state was known as Lacedaemon (, ), while the name Sparta refe ...

and one of the

Seven Sages of Greece The Seven Sages (of Greece) or Seven Wise Men (Greek: ''hoi hepta sophoi'') was the title given by classical Greek tradition to seven philosophers, statesmen, and law-givers of the 7–6th century BC who were renowned for their wisdom. The ...

Life

Chilon was the son of Damagetus, and lived towards the beginning of the 6th century BC.

Herodotus Herodotus ( ; grc, , }; BC) was an ancient Greek historian and geographer A geographer is a physical scientist, social scientist or humanist whose area of study is geography, the study of Earth's natural environment and human society ...

speaks of him as contemporary with Hippocrates, the father of

Peisistratus Pisistratus or Peisistratus ( grc-gre, Πεισίστρατος ; 600 – 527 BC) was a politician in ancient Athens, ruling as tyrant in the late 560s, the early 550s and from 546 BC until his death. His unification of Attica, the triangular ...

. Diogenes Laërtius states that he was an old man in the 52nd

Olympiad An olympiad ( el, Ὀλυμπιάς, ''Olympiás'') is a period of four years, particularly those associated with the ancient and modern Olympic Games. Although the ancient Olympics were established during Greece's Archaic Era, it was not unti ...

(572 BC), and that he was elected an ephor (overseer) in

Sparta Sparta ( Doric Greek: Σπάρτα, ''Spártā''; Attic Greek: Σπάρτη, ''Spártē'') was a prominent city-state in Laconia, in ancient Greece. In antiquity, the city-state was known as Lacedaemon (, ), while the name Sparta referre ...

in the 56th Olympiad (556/5 BC). Alcidamas states that he was a member of the Spartan assembly. Diogenes Laërtius even goes so far as to claim that Chilon was also the first person who introduced the custom of joining the ephors to the kings as their counselors.Diogenes Laërtius, i. 68-73 Giordano - Le Philosophe Chilon, 1660 vers

Giordano - Le Philosophe Chilon, 1660 vers

Chilon is said to have helped to overthrow the tyranny at Sicyon, which became a Spartan ally. He is also credited with the change in Spartan policy leading to the development of the Peloponnesian League in the sixth century BC. Another legend claims that he died of joy when his son gained the prize for boxing at the

Olympic games The modern Olympic Games or Olympics (french: link=no, Jeux olympiques) are the leading international sporting events featuring summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a vari ...

, and that his funeral was attended by all the Greeks assembled at the festival. One of his descendants married king Anaxandridas II of Sparta and bore his son, king

Cleomenes I Cleomenes I (; Greek Κλεομένης; died c. 490 BC) was Agiad King of Sparta from c. 524 to c. 490 BC. One of the most important Spartan kings, Cleomenes was instrumental in organising the Greek resistance against the Persian Empire of Dariu ...

Sayings and teachings

Chilon of Sparta also said the famous Ancient Greek proverb: "Το λακωνίζειν εστί φιλοσοφείν", in English "less is more", or "brevity is the soul of wit", or "brevity is a way of philosophy", which means that the best way of being a philosopher is through brevity and describes the Spartans' way of thinking and attitude. Diogenes Laërtius describes him as a writer of elegiac poems, and attributes many sayings to him: * "Do not speak evil of the dead." * "Honor old age." * "Prefer punishment to disgraceful gain; for the one is painful but once, but the other for one's whole life." * "Do not laugh at a person in misfortune." * "If one is strong be also merciful, so that one's neighbors may respect one rather than fear one." * "Learn how to regulate one's own house well." * "Do not let one's tongue outrun one's sense." * "Restrain anger." * "Do not dislike divination." * "Do not desire what is impossible." * "Do not make too much haste on one's road." * "Obey the laws." According to an inscription at the Bath of the Seven Sages in Ostia "cunning Chilon taught to fart silently."

Ann Olga Koloski-Ostrow Ann Olga Koloski-Ostrow (born 1949) is an American archaeologist known for her studies of hydraulic engineering in the ancient world. She works at Brandeis University as a professor of classical studies, the Kevy and Hortense Kaiserman Endowed Chai ...

, ''The Archaeology of Sanitation in Roman Italy: Toilets, Sewers, and Water Systems'', The University of North Carolina Press, 2015,
p.115
in the original Latin 'Vissire tacite Chilon docuit subdolus.'

References

External links

* {{Authority control 6th-century BC Spartans Ancient Spartan poets Seven Sages of Greece Ephors

Life

Sayings and teachings

References

Further reading

External links