Clearchus of Soli
Encyclopedia
Clearchus of Soli was a Greek philosopher of the 4th-3rd century BCE, belonging to Aristotle
's Peripatetic school. He was born in Soli
in Cyprus
.
He wrote extensively on eastern cultures, and is thought to have traveled to the Bactria
n city of Ai-Khanoum
(Alexanderia on the Oxus)in modern Afghanistan.
, and several fragments from him are known. His book "Of Education" (Greek: , Peri paideiās) was preserved by Diogenes Laertius
.
Clearchus in particular expressed several theories on the connection between western and eastern religions. In "Of Education", he wrote that "the gymnosophists
are descendants of the Magi
". In another text, quoted by Josephus
, Clearchus reported a dialogue with Aristotle, where the philosopher states that the Hebrews
were descendants of the Indian philosophers:
His works included also:
There is some question as to whether the work on military tactics cited by Aelianus Tacticus
should be ascribed to Clearchus of Soli or Clearchus of Heraclea
.
n city of Ai-Khanoum
, near the border with India, Greek verses, brought to city by Clearchus from Delphi
, were dedicated to the founder of the city named Kineas. On a Herôon (funerary monument), identified in Greek as the tomb of Kineas (also described as the oikistes
(founder) of the Greek settlement) and dated to 300-250 BC, the inscription says:
The precepts were placed by a Greek named Clearchus, thought to be Clearchus of Soli, who had copied them from Delphi
:
Clearchus of Soli was a contemporary and compatriot of Stasanor
(born in the same city of Soli, in Cyprus), who was a general of Alexander the Great and later satrap
of Bactria
and Sogdiana
.
Aristotle
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and polymath, a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. His writings cover many subjects, including physics, metaphysics, poetry, theater, music, logic, rhetoric, linguistics, politics, government, ethics, biology, and zoology...
's Peripatetic school. He was born in Soli
Soli, Cyprus
thumb|right|250px|Map showing the 10 ancient city Kingdoms of CyprusSoli or Soloi is an ancient Greek city in the island of Cyprus, located south-west of Morphou and on the coast in the gulf of Morphou and dates back to about the 6th century BC...
in Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
.
He wrote extensively on eastern cultures, and is thought to have traveled to the Bactria
Bactria
Bactria and also appears in the Zend Avesta as Bukhdi. It is the ancient name of a historical region located between south of the Amu Darya and west of the Indus River...
n city of Ai-Khanoum
Ai-Khanoum
Ai-Khanoum or Ay Khanum , was founded in the 4th century BC, following the conquests of Alexander the Great and was one of the primary cities of the Greco-Bactrian kingdom...
(Alexanderia on the Oxus)in modern Afghanistan.
Writings
Clearchus wrote extensively around 320 BCE on eastern cultures, from Persia to IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, and several fragments from him are known. His book "Of Education" (Greek: , Peri paideiās) was preserved by Diogenes Laertius
Diogenes Laertius
Diogenes Laertius was a biographer of the Greek philosophers. Nothing is known about his life, but his surviving Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers is one of the principal surviving sources for the history of Greek philosophy.-Life:Nothing is definitively known about his life...
.
Clearchus in particular expressed several theories on the connection between western and eastern religions. In "Of Education", he wrote that "the gymnosophists
Gymnosophists
Gymnosophists is the name given by the Greeks to certain ancient Indian philosophers who pursued asceticism to the point of regarding food and clothing as detrimental to purity of thought ....
are descendants of the Magi
Magi
Magi is a term, used since at least the 4th century BC, to denote a follower of Zoroaster, or rather, a follower of what the Hellenistic world associated Zoroaster with, which...
". In another text, quoted by Josephus
Josephus
Titus Flavius Josephus , also called Joseph ben Matityahu , was a 1st-century Romano-Jewish historian and hagiographer of priestly and royal ancestry who recorded Jewish history, with special emphasis on the 1st century AD and the First Jewish–Roman War, which resulted in the Destruction of...
, Clearchus reported a dialogue with Aristotle, where the philosopher states that the Hebrews
Hebrews
Hebrews is an ethnonym used in the Hebrew Bible...
were descendants of the Indian philosophers:
- "Jews are derived from the Indian philosophers; they are named by the Indians Calami, and by the Syrians Judaei, and took their name from the country they inhabit, which is called Judea; but for the name of their city, it is a very awkward one, for they call it Jerusalem." JosephusJosephusTitus Flavius Josephus , also called Joseph ben Matityahu , was a 1st-century Romano-Jewish historian and hagiographer of priestly and royal ancestry who recorded Jewish history, with special emphasis on the 1st century AD and the First Jewish–Roman War, which resulted in the Destruction of...
, Contra Apionem, I, 22 .
His works included also:
- (Bioi); a biographical work, of at least eight volumes
- A commentary on PlatoPlatoPlato , was a Classical Greek philosopher, mathematician, student of Socrates, writer of philosophical dialogues, and founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. Along with his mentor, Socrates, and his student, Aristotle, Plato helped to lay the...
's TimaeusTimaeus (dialogue)Timaeus is one of Plato's dialogues, mostly in the form of a long monologue given by the title character, written circa 360 BC. The work puts forward speculation on the nature of the physical world and human beings. It is followed by the dialogue Critias.Speakers of the dialogue are Socrates,... - (Platōnos enkōmion); eulogyEulogyA eulogy is a speech or writing in praise of a person or thing, especially one recently deceased or retired. Eulogies may be given as part of funeral services. However, some denominations either discourage or do not permit eulogies at services to maintain respect for traditions...
to Plato - (Peri tōn en tē Platōnos Polīteiā mathēmatikōs eirēmenōn); on the mathematical subjects in Plato's Republic
- (Gergithios); a treatise on flattery
- (Peri filiās); on friendship
- (Paroimiai); proverbs
- (Peri griphōn); on riddles
- (Erōtika); a probably historical collection of love-stories with some very odd questions on the subject
- (Peri graphōn); on paintings
- (Perigraphai); ? the reading in AthenaeusAthenaeusAthenaeus , of Naucratis in Egypt, Greek rhetorician and grammarian, flourished about the end of the 2nd and beginning of the 3rd century AD...
is doubtful (XIV 648f) - (Peri narkēs); on the Electric rayElectric rayThe electric rays are a group of rays, flattened cartilaginous fish with enlarged pectoral fins, comprising the order Torpediniformes. They are known for being capable of producing an electric discharge, ranging from as little as 8 volts up to 220 volts depending on species, used to stun prey and...
- (Peri tōn enudrōn); on water-animals
- (Peri thīnōn); on sand-wastes
- (Peri skeletōn); an anatomical work
- (Peri upnou); on sleep (genuineness questionable)
There is some question as to whether the work on military tactics cited by Aelianus Tacticus
Aelianus Tacticus
Aelianus Tacticus was a Greek military writer of the 2nd century, resident at Rome.Aelian's military treatise in fifty-three chapters on the tactics of the Greeks, titled "On Tactical Arrays of the Greeks" , is dedicated to Hadrian, though this is probably a mistake for Trajan, and the date 106...
should be ascribed to Clearchus of Soli or Clearchus of Heraclea
Clearchus of Heraclea
Clearchus was a citizen of Heraclea on the Euxine who was recalled from exile by the nobles to aid them in quelling the seditious temper and demands of the people. According to Justin, he made an agreement with Mithridates of Cius to betray the city to him on condition, of holding it under him...
.
Travels
In the BactriaBactria
Bactria and also appears in the Zend Avesta as Bukhdi. It is the ancient name of a historical region located between south of the Amu Darya and west of the Indus River...
n city of Ai-Khanoum
Ai-Khanoum
Ai-Khanoum or Ay Khanum , was founded in the 4th century BC, following the conquests of Alexander the Great and was one of the primary cities of the Greco-Bactrian kingdom...
, near the border with India, Greek verses, brought to city by Clearchus from Delphi
Delphi
Delphi is both an archaeological site and a modern town in Greece on the south-western spur of Mount Parnassus in the valley of Phocis.In Greek mythology, Delphi was the site of the Delphic oracle, the most important oracle in the classical Greek world, and a major site for the worship of the god...
, were dedicated to the founder of the city named Kineas. On a Herôon (funerary monument), identified in Greek as the tomb of Kineas (also described as the oikistes
Oikistes
When a Greek polis chose to settle a new colony , an individual - the oikistes - was chosen as leader and invested with the power of selecting a settling place, directing the initial labors of the colonists and guiding the fledgling colony through its hard early years....
(founder) of the Greek settlement) and dated to 300-250 BC, the inscription says:
- "As children, learn good manners.
- As young men, learn to control the passions.
- In middle age, be just.
- In old age, give good advice.
- Then die, without regret."
The precepts were placed by a Greek named Clearchus, thought to be Clearchus of Soli, who had copied them from Delphi
Delphi
Delphi is both an archaeological site and a modern town in Greece on the south-western spur of Mount Parnassus in the valley of Phocis.In Greek mythology, Delphi was the site of the Delphic oracle, the most important oracle in the classical Greek world, and a major site for the worship of the god...
:
- "Whence Klearchos, having copied them carefully, set them up, shining from afar, in the sanctuary of Kineas"
Clearchus of Soli was a contemporary and compatriot of Stasanor
Stasanor
Stasanor was a native of Soli in Cyprus who held a distinguished position among the officers of Alexander the Great.-Stasanor, officer of Alexander:...
(born in the same city of Soli, in Cyprus), who was a general of Alexander the Great and later satrap
Satrap
Satrap was the name given to the governors of the provinces of the ancient Median and Achaemenid Empires and in several of their successors, such as the Sassanid Empire and the Hellenistic empires....
of Bactria
Bactria
Bactria and also appears in the Zend Avesta as Bukhdi. It is the ancient name of a historical region located between south of the Amu Darya and west of the Indus River...
and Sogdiana
Sogdiana
Sogdiana or Sogdia was the ancient civilization of an Iranian people and a province of the Achaemenid Empire, eighteenth in the list on the Behistun Inscription of Darius the Great . Sogdiana is "listed" as the second of the "good lands and countries" that Ahura Mazda created...
.