Benjamin Of Lesbos
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Benjamin of Lesbos (; alternatively transliterated as Veniamin of Lesvos or Lesvios; 1759–1824) was a Greek monk, scholar, and politician who was a significant figure in the
Modern Greek Enlightenment The Modern Greek Enlightenment (also known as the Neo-Hellenic Enlightenment; , ''Diafotismós'' / , ''Neoellinikós Diafotismós'') was the Greek expression of the Age of Enlightenment, characterized by an intellectual and philosophical movemen ...
.


Biography

Benjamin of Lesbos was born on the island of
Lesbos Lesbos or Lesvos ( ) is a Greek island located in the northeastern Aegean Sea. It has an area of , with approximately of coastline, making it the third largest island in Greece and the List of islands in the Mediterranean#By area, eighth largest ...
in the town of
Plomari Plomari () is a town and a former municipality on the island of Lesbos, North Aegean, Greece. Since the 2019 local government reform it is part of the municipality Mytilene, of which it is a municipal unit. It is the only sizable coastal settleme ...
. At the age of 17 he travelled to
Mount Athos Mount Athos (; ) is a mountain on the Athos peninsula in northeastern Greece directly on the Aegean Sea. It is an important center of Eastern Orthodoxy, Eastern Orthodox monasticism. The mountain and most of the Athos peninsula are governed ...
and there became a monk at Pantokratoros Monastery. In 1812 he was invited to direct the Patriarchal School in Constantinople, but declined this offer and instead settled in his native Lesbos to establish a school there. Later, in 1820, he taught at the
Evangelical School of Smyrna The Evangelical School ( officially Ἡ ἐν Σμύρνῃ Εὐαγγελική Σχολή) was a Greek educational institution established in 1733 in Smyrna, Ottoman Empire, now İzmir, Turkey. The school, initially an Orthodox Church-approved ...
. He also was associated with a school in nearby
Ayvalık Ayvalık (), formerly also known as Kydonies (), is a municipality and Districts of Turkey, district of Balıkesir Province, Turkey. Its area is 305 km2, and its population is 75,126 (2024). It is a seaside town on the northwestern Aegean Se ...
, where he was the principal instructor and earned the admiration of
Lord Byron George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron (22 January 1788 – 19 April 1824) was an English poet. He is one of the major figures of the Romantic movement, and is regarded as being among the greatest poets of the United Kingdom. Among his best-kno ...
, who praised Benjamin as "a man of talent" and "a free-thinker". He died in 1824 in
Nafplio Nafplio or Nauplio () is a coastal city located in the Peloponnese in Greece. It is the capital of the regional unit of Argolis and an important tourist destination. Founded in antiquity, the city became an important seaport in the Middle Ages du ...
, during the
Greek War of Independence The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution or the Greek Revolution of 1821, was a successful war of independence by Greek revolutionaries against the Ottoman Empire between 1821 and 1829. In 1826, the Greeks were assisted ...
.


Philosophical thought

Benjamin of Lesbos was exposed to West European philosophical theories in his studies and travels, and was notably influenced by
John Locke John Locke (; 29 August 1632 (Old Style and New Style dates, O.S.) – 28 October 1704 (Old Style and New Style dates, O.S.)) was an English philosopher and physician, widely regarded as one of the most influential of the Enlightenment thi ...
, especially in the area of epistemology. He played an intellectual role in Greek culture and has been described as a "remarkable philosopher" in his own right.


Legacy

Benjamin of Lesbos is commemorated in the Festival of Benjamin, held annually in late June in
Plomari Plomari () is a town and a former municipality on the island of Lesbos, North Aegean, Greece. Since the 2019 local government reform it is part of the municipality Mytilene, of which it is a municipal unit. It is the only sizable coastal settleme ...
.


References


Further reading

* * {{Authority control 1759 births 1824 deaths People from Lesbos Greeks from the Ottoman Empire History of İzmir People of the Modern Greek Enlightenment 18th-century Greek writers 19th-century Greek philosophers 19th-century Greek educators 19th-century Greek scientists 18th-century Greek philosophers 18th-century Greek educators 18th-century Greek scientists 18th-century Greek politicians 19th-century Greek politicians People associated with Pantokratoros Monastery