Greek philosophers
Pittakos of Mytilene
Pittakos of Mytilene was a Greek philosopher, politician and soldier. He was born in 645 BC (Mytilene on the island of Lesbos) and died in 570 BC.
Pittakos of Mytilene was one of the seven sages of ancient Greece, where Plato included him in his dialogue Pr贸thagoras.
When the tyrant Melanchros seized control of his native Mytilene, Pittakos supported a revolt of the nobility in which the tyrant was murdered.
He distinguished himself by defeating Phrynus, an Olympic champion fistfighter, in a duel with the Athenians for the settlement of Sigeion in Troas (in northwestern Asia Minor). He defeated him by throwing a net over him unobserved and then killing him. The Mytilenians offered him many gifts, but he asked only for as much land as he could throw over with his spear.
He was head of the city-state for 10 years. His aristocratic opponents were sent into exile and branded him a tyrant. Interestingly, his law imposed double punishment on those who committed drunken crimes. He relinquished his rule in 580 BC and lived another 10 years.
Many of his teachings and moral advice have survived:
- Know the time!
- Don't say what you are going to do, for failure to do so will result in ridicule!
- Do not do to your neighbour what you do to him!
- Do not insult the unfortunate, for the wrath of God is upon these people.
- Return those entrusted to you!
- Reliable is the earth, unreliable the sea.
- Profit is greedy.
- Get what's yours!