Imperial Dictionary of Universal Biography/Volume 3/Pittacus

Imperial Dictionary of Universal Biography/Volume 3 (1876)

Excerpted from The Imperial Dictionary of Universal Biography, Volume 3, 1876 ed., page 690. (Ferrier's contributions to the Imperial Dictionary of Universal Biography were for for the edition published 1857-1863. That this is the subsequent edition of 1876 is evidenced in its mentioning later dates—including that of Ferrier's death in 1864.)

2389650Imperial Dictionary of Universal Biography/Volume 3 — PITTACUS1876James Frederick Ferrier

PITTACUS, one of "the seven wise men of Greece," was born at Mitylene, the capital of the island of Lesbos, about 652 B.C. He was distinguished as a philosopher and poet, but still more as a warrior and practical politician. The latter, indeed, was the character in which the "seven sages" shone most conspicuously. They lived at a time when the old Greek tyrannies were tending to become republics, and they exerted all their talents and influence to bring about the change. In 612 B.C. Pittacus slew Melanchrus the tyrant of Mitylene, and so distinguished himself by his courage and capacity that the citizens appointed him commander of their forces in a war which they were waging with the Athenians for the possession of Sigeum in the Troad. Here, too, Pittacus greatly distinguished himself. He slew, with his own hand, Phrynon the Athenian general, having first entangled him in a net, after the fashion which was afterwards in use among the gladiators at Rome. The Athenians, however, obtained possession of the disputed territory through the mediation of Periander the tyrant of Corinth. (It may be scarcely necessary to mention that, among the Greeks, the word "tyrant" meant not necessarily a cruel, but only an arbitrary ruler.) To allay the intestine troubles at Mitylene which had followed on the death of Melanchrus, and to extinguish the aristocratical party, Pittacus was placed at the head of affairs by the suffrages of the people. He administered the government with great wisdom and moderation. Being offered as much land as he pleased, he accepted only so much as could be measured by one cast of a spear. Of this he dedicated one half to Apollo, and kept only the other to himself, saying, "The half is greater than the whole"—a maxim which inculcated the golden mean, and furnished a germ of doctrine to Aristotle and other moral philosophers of antiquity. Another of his sage sayings was, "Know the opportunity"—the right moment for action. He ordained that offences committed in a state of drunkenness should be punished twofold. Pittacus held office during ten years, and afterwards lived for ten years in retirement. He died in 569 B.C.—J. F. F.