Pherecydes' Life

I. Pherecydes was a Syrian, the son of Babys, and, as Alexander says, in his Successions, he had been a pupil of Pittacus.

I. Pherecydes was a Syrian and the son of Babys. According to Alexander's Successions, he had been a student of Pittacus.

II. Theopompus says that he was the first person who ever wrote among the Greeks on the subject of Natural Philosophy and the Gods. And there are many marvellous stories told of him. For it is said that he was walking along the sea-shore at Samos, and that seeing a ship sailing by with a fair wind, he said that it would soon sink; and presently it sank before their eyes. At another time he was drinking some water which had been drawn up out of a well, and he foretold that within three days there would be an earthquake; and there was one. And as he was going up to Olympia, and had arrived at Messene, he advised his entertainer, Perilaus, to migrate from the city with all his family, but that Perilaus would not be guided by him; and afterwards Messene was taken.

II. Theopompus says that he was the first Greek to write about natural philosophy and the gods. Many marvelous stories are told about him. Once, he was walking along the shore at Samos when he saw a ship sailing by with a favorable wind. He said it would soon sink, and it sank before their eyes. Another time, he was drinking water drawn from a well. He predicted that an earthquake would occur within three days, and it did. On his way to Olympia, he arrived at Messene. There he advised his host, Perilaus, to leave the city with his entire family. But Perilaus would not follow his advice, and Messene was later captured.

III. And he is said to have told the Lacedæmonians to honour neither gold nor silver, as Theopompus says in his Marvels; and it is reported that Hercules laid this injunction on him in a dream, and that the same night he appeared also to the kings of Sparta, and enjoined them to be guided by Pherecydes; but some attribute these stories to Pythagoras.

III. According to Theopompus in his Marvels, he is said to have told the Lacedæmonians to honor neither gold nor silver. It is reported that Hercules gave him this command in a dream. That same night, Hercules also appeared to the kings of Sparta and told them to follow Pherecydes. But some attribute these stories to Pythagoras.

IV. And Hermippus relates that when there was a war between the Ephesians and Magnesians, he, wishing the Ephesians to conquer, asked some one, who was passing by, from whence he came? and when he said, “From Ephesus,” “Drag me now,” said he, “by the legs, and place me in the territory of the Magnesians, and tell your fellow countrymen to bury me there after they have got the victory;” and that he went and reported that Pherecydes had given him this order. And so they went forth the next day and defeated the Magnesians; and as Pherecydes was dead, they buried him there, and paid him very splendid honours.

IV. Hermippus tells a story about a war between the Ephesians and the Magnesians. Pherecydes wanted the Ephesians to win. He asked a passerby where he came from. The man said, “From Ephesus.” Pherecydes said, “Now drag me by the legs and place me in Magnesian territory. Tell your fellow citizens to bury me there after they have won the victory.” The man went and reported that Pherecydes had given him these orders. So the Ephesians went out the next day and defeated the Magnesians. Pherecydes had died, so they buried him there and honored him splendidly.

V. But some writers say that he went to Delphi, and threw himself down from the Corycian hill; Aristoxenus, in his History of Pythagoras and his Friends, says that Pherecydes fell sick and died, and was buried by Pythagoras in Delos; But others say that he died of the lousy disease; and when Pythagoras came to see him, and asked him how he was, he put his finger through the door, and said, “You may see by my skin.” And from this circumstance that expression passed into a proverb among the philosophers, when affairs are going on badly; and those who apply it to affairs that are going on well, make a blunder. He used to say, also, that the Gods call their table θυωρὸς.

V. But some writers say that he went to Delphi and threw himself down from the Corycian hill. Aristoxenus, in his History of Pythagoras and his Friends, says that Pherecydes fell ill and died. He says Pythagoras buried him in Delos. But others say that he died of the disease of lice. When Pythagoras came to see him and asked how he was, he put his finger through the door. He said, “You can see from my skin.” This expression became a proverb among philosophers for when things are going badly. Those who use it when things are going well are mistaken. He also used to say that the Gods call their table θυωρὸς.

VI. But Andron, the Ephesian, says that there were two men of the name of Pherecydes, both Syrians: one an astronomer and the other a writer on God and the Divine Nature; and that this last was the son of Babys, who was also the master of Pythagoras. But Eratosthenes asserts that there was but one, who was a Syrian; and that the other Pherecydes was an Athenian, a genealogist; and the work of the Syrian Pherecydes is preserved, and it begins thus:—“Jupiter, and Time, and Chthon existed externally.” And the name of Cthonia became Tellus, after Jupiter gave it to her as a reward. A sun-dial is also preserved, in the island of Syra, of his making.

VI. But Andron of Ephesus says that there were two men named Pherecydes, both Syrians. One was an astronomer, and the other wrote about God and the divine nature. The writer was the son of Babys, who was also Pythagoras’s teacher. But Eratosthenes says that there was only one Syrian Pherecydes. The other Pherecydes was an Athenian and a genealogist. A work by the Syrian Pherecydes survives. It begins: “Jupiter, and Time, and Chthon existed externally.” The name Cthonia became Tellus after Jupiter gave it to her as a reward. A sundial made by Pherecydes also survives on the island of Syra.

VII. But Duris, in the second book of his Boundaries, says that this epigram was written upon him:—

VII. But Duris says in the second book of his Boundaries that this epigram was written about him:

And Ion, the Chian, says of him:—

And Ion of Chios says of him:

And I myself have composed an epigram on him in the Pherecratean metre:—

I also wrote an epigram about him in Pherecratean metre:

VIII. And he flourished about the fifty-ninth Olympiad. There is a letter of his extant in the following terms:—

VIII. He flourished around the fifty-ninth Olympiad. One of his letters survives and reads as follows:

May you die happily when fate overtakes you. Disease has seized upon me at the same time that I received your letter. I am all over lice, and suffering likewise under a low fever. Accordingly, I have charged my servants to convey this book of mine to you, after they have buried me. And do you, if you think fit, after consulting with the other wise men, publish it; but if you do not approve of doing so, then keep it unpublished, for I am not entirely pleased with it myself. The subject is not one about which there is any certain knowledge, nor do I undertake to say that I have arrived at the truth; but I have advanced arguments, from which any one who occupies himself with speculations on the divine nature, may make a selection; and as to other points, he must exercise his intellect, for I speak obscurely throughout. I, myself, as I am afflicted more severely by this disease every day, no longer admit any physicians, or any of my friends. But when they stand at the door, and ask me how I am, I put out my finger to them through the opening of the door, and show them how I am eaten up with the evil; and I desired them to come to-morrow to the funeral of Pherecydes.

May you die happily when fate overtakes you. I fell ill at the same time that I received your letter. I am covered in lice and have a low fever. So I have instructed my servants to bring you this book of mine after they have buried me. If you think fit, consult the other wise men and publish it. But if you do not approve of publishing it, keep it unpublished, for I am not entirely pleased with it myself. There is no certain knowledge about the subject, and I do not claim to have found the truth. But I have put forward arguments from which anyone who studies the divine nature may make a selection. On other points, the reader must use their own intellect, for I write obscurely throughout. My illness grows worse every day, and I no longer admit physicians or friends. When they stand at the door and ask how I am, I put my finger through the opening. I show them how the disease is eating me up. And I asked them to come tomorrow to the funeral of Pherecydes.

These, then, are they who were called wise men; to which list some writers add the name of Pisistratus. But we must also speak of the philosophers. And we will begin first with the Ionic philosophy, the founder of which school was Thales, who was the master of Anaximander.

These are the people who were called wise men. Some writers also add Pisistratus to the list. But we must also speak of the philosophers. We will begin with Ionic philosophy, which was founded by Thales. Thales was the teacher of Anaximander.