Delphic maxims
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The Delphic maxims are a set of 147 aphorisms inscribed at Delphi. Originally, they were said to have been given by the Greek god Apollo's Oracle at Delphi and were therefore attributed to Apollo himself.[1] The 5th century scholar Stobaeus later attributed them to the Seven Sages of Greece.[2] Contemporary scholars, however, hold that their original authorship is uncertain and that 'most likely they were popular proverbs, which tended later to be attributed to particular sages.'[3] Perhaps the most famous of these maxims is 'know thyself,' which was carved into the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. The specific order and wording of each maxim varies between different versions (and translations) of the text.
Ai-Khanoum inscription
In the ruins of the Hellenistic city of Ai-Khanoum (former Greco-Bactrian kingdom, and modern Afghanistan), on a Herõon (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 BCE, an inscription has been found describing part of the Delphic maxims (maxims 143 to 147):
- παῖς ὢν κόσμιος γίνου,
- ἡβῶν ἐγκρατής,
- μέσος δίκαιος,
- πρεσβύτης εὔβουλος,
- τελευτῶν ἄλυπος.[4]
- "Païs ôn kosmios ginou (As children, learn good manners)
- hèbôn enkratès, (as young men, learn to control the passions)
- mesos dikaios (in middle age, be just)
- presbutès euboulos (in old age, give good advice)
- teleutôn alupos. (then die, without regret.)"
The precepts were placed by a Greek named Clearchos, who may or may not have been Clearchus of Soli the disciple of Aristotle,[5] who, according to the same inscription, had copied them from Delphi:
- ἀνδρῶν τοι σοφὰ ταῦτα παλαιοτέρων ἀνάκει[τα]ι
- ῥήματα ἀριγνώτων Πυθοὶ ἐν ἠγαθέαι·
- ἔνθεν ταῦτ[α] Κλέαρχος ἐπιφραδέως ἀναγράψας
- εἵσατο τηλαυγῆ Κινέου ἐν τεμένει.[4]
- "These wise commandments of men of old
- - Words of well-known thinkers - stand dedicated
- In the most holy Pythian shrine
- From there Klearchos, having copied them carefully, set them up, shining from afar, in the sanctuary of Kineas"
147 Delphic maxims
| 147 Delphic maxims | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Greek | English |
| 001. | Ἕπου θεῷ | Follow God |
| 002. | Νόμῳ πείθου | Obey the law |
| 003. | Θεοὺς σέβου | Worship the Gods |
| 004. | Γονεῖς αἰδοῦ | Respect your parents |
| 005. | Ἡττῶ ὑπὸ δικαίου | Be overcome by justice |
| 006. | Γνῶθι μαθών | Know what you have learned |
| 007. | Ἀκούσας νόει | Perceive what you have heard |
| 008. | Σαυτὸν ἴσθι | Be/Know yourself |
| 009. | Γαμεῖν μέλλε | Intend to get married |
| 010. | Καιρὸν γνῶθι | Know your opportunity |
| 011. | Φρόνει θνητά | Think as a mortal |
| 012. | Ξένος ὢν ἴσθι | If you are a stranger act like one |
| 013. | Ἑστίαν τίμα | Honor the hearth (or Hestia) |
| 014. | Ἄρχε σεαυτοῦ | Control yourself |
| 015. | Φίλοις βοήθει | Help your friends |
| 016. | Θυμοῦ κράτει | Control anger |
| 017. | Φρόνησιν ἄσκει | Exercise prudence |
| 018. | Πρόνοιαν τίμα | Honor providence |
| 019. | Ὅρκῳ μὴ χρῶ | Do not use an oath |
| 020. | Φιλίαν ἀγάπα | Love friendship |
| 021. | Παιδείας ἀντέχου | Cling to discipline |
| 022. | Δόξαν δίωκε | Pursue honor |
| 023. | Σοφίαν ζήλου | Long for wisdom |
| 024. | Καλὸν εὖ λέγε | Praise the good |
| 025. | Ψέγε μηδένα | Find fault with no one |
| 026. | Ἐπαίνει ἀρετήν | Praise virtue |
| 027. | Πρᾶττε δίκαια | Practice what is just |
| 028. | Φίλοις εὐνόει | Be kind to friends |
| 029. | Ἐχθροὺς ἀμύνου | Watch out for your enemies |
| 030. | Εὐγένειαν ἄσκει | Exercise nobility of character |
| 031. | Κακίας ἀπέχου | Shun evil |
| 032. | Κοινὸς γίνου | Be impartial |
| 033. | Ἴδια φύλαττε | Guard what is yours |
| 034. | Αλλοτρίων ἀπέχου | Shun what belongs to others |
| 035. | Ἄκουε πάντα | Listen to everyone |
| 036. | Εὔφημος ἴσθι | Be (religiously) silent |
| 037. | Φίλῳ χαρίζου | Do a favor for a friend |
| 038. | Μηδὲν ἄγαν | Nothing to excess |
| 039. | Χρόνου φείδου | Use time sparingly |
| 040. | Ὅρα τὸ μέλλον | Foresee the future |
| 041. | Ὕβριν μίσει | Despise insolence |
| 042. | Ἱκέτας αἰδοῦ | Have respect for suppliants |
| 043. | Πᾶσιν ἁρμόζου | Be accommodating in everything |
| 044. | Υἱοὺς παίδευε | Educate your sons |
| 045. | Ἔχων χαρίζου | Give what you have |
| 046. | Δόλον φοβοῦ | Fear deceit |
| 047. | Εὐλόγει πάντας | Speak well of everyone |
| 048. | Φιλόσοφος γίνου | Be a seeker of wisdom |
| 049. | Ὅσια κρῖνε | Choose what is divine |
| 050. | Γνοὺς πρᾶττε | Act when you know |
| 051. | Φόνου ἀπέχου | Shun murder |
| 052. | Εὔχου δυνατά | Pray for things possible |
| 053. | Σοφοῖς χρῶ | Consult the wise |
| 054. | Ἦθος δοκίμαζε | Test the character |
| 055. | Λαβὼν ἀπόδος | Give back what you have received |
| 056. | Ὑφορῶ μηδένα | Down-look no one |
| 057. | Τέχνῃ χρῶ | Use your skill |
| 058. | Ὃ μέλλεις, δός | Do what you mean to do |
| 059. | Εὐεργεσίας τίμα | Honor a benefaction |
| 060. | Φθόνει μηδενί | Be jealous of no one |
| 061. | Φυλακῇ πρόσεχε | Be on your guard |
| 062. | Ἐλπίδα αἴνει | Praise hope |
| 063. | Διαβολὴν μίσει | Despise a slanderer |
| 064. | Δικαίως κτῶ | Gain possessions justly |
| 065. | Ἀγαθοὺς τίμα | Honor good men |
| 066. | Κριτὴν γνῶθι | Know the judge |
| 067. | Γάμους κράτει | Master wedding-feasts |
| 068. | Τύχην νόμιζε | Recognize fortune |
| 069. | Ἐγγύην φεῦγε | Flee a pledge |
| 070. | Ἁπλῶς διαλέγου | Speak plainly |
| 071. | Ὁμοίοις χρῶ | Associate with your peers |
| 072. | Δαπανῶν ἄρχου | Govern your expenses |
| 073. | Κτώμενος ἥδου | Be happy with what you have |
| 074. | Αἰσχύνην σέβου | Revere a sense of shame |
| 075. | Χάριν ἐκτέλει | Fulfill a favor |
| 076. | Εὐτυχίαν εὔχου | Pray for happiness |
| 077. | Τύχην στέργε | Be fond of fortune |
| 078. | Ἀκούων ὅρα | Observe what you have heard |
| 079. | Ἐργάζου κτητά | Work for what you can own |
| 080. | Ἔριν μίσει | Despise strife |
| 081. | Ὄνειδος ἔχθαιρε | Detest disgrace |
| 082. | Γλῶτταν ἴσχε | Restrain the tongue |
| 083. | Ὕβριν ἀμύνου | Keep yourself from insolence |
| 084. | Κρῖνε δίκαια | Make just judgements |
| 085. | Χρῶ χρήμασιν | Use what you have |
| 086. | Ἀδωροδόκητος δίκαζε | Judge incorruptibly |
| 087. | Αἰτιῶ παρόντα | Accuse one who is present |
| 088. | Λέγε εἰδώς | Tell when you know |
| 089. | Βίας μὴ ἔχου | Do not depend on strength |
| 090. | Ἀλύπως βίου | Live without sorrow |
| 091. | Ὁμίλει πρᾴως | Live together meekly |
| 092. | Πέρας ἐπιτέλει μὴ ἀποδειλιῶν | Finish the race without shrinking back |
| 093. | Φιλοφρόνει πᾶσιν | Deal kindly with everyone |
| 094. | Υἱοῖς μὴ καταρῶ | Do not curse your sons |
| 095. | Γυναικὸς ἄρχε | Initiate / lead / guide your wife |
| 096. | Σεαυτὸν εὖ ποίει | Benefit yourself |
| 097. | Εὐπροσήγορος γίνου | Be courteous |
| 098. | Ἀποκρίνου ἐν καιρῷ | Give a timely response |
| 099. | Πόνει μετ’ εὐκλείας | Struggle with glory |
| 100. | Πρᾶττε ἀμετανοήτως | Act without repenting |
| 101. | Ἁμαρτάνων μετανόει | Repent of sins |
| 102. | Ὀφθαλμοῦ κράτει | Control the eye |
| 103. | Βουλεύου χρόνῳ | Give a timely counsel |
| 104. | Πρᾶττε συντόμως | Act quickly |
| 105. | Φιλίαν φύλαττε | Guard friendship |
| 106. | Εὐγνώμων γίνου | Be grateful |
| 107. | Ὁμόνοιαν δίωκε | Pursue harmony |
| 108. | Ἄρρητον κρύπτε | Keep deeply the top secret |
| 109. | Τὸ κρατοῦν φοβοῦ | Fear ruling |
| 110. | Τὸ συμφέρον θηρῶ | Pursue what is profitable |
| 111. | Καιρὸν προσδέχου | Accept due measure |
| 112. | Ἔχθρας διάλυε | Do away with enmities |
| 113. | Γῆρας προσδέχου | Accept old age |
| 114. | Ἐπὶ ῥώμῃ μὴ καυχῶ | Do not boast in might |
| 115. | Εὐφημίαν ἄσκει | Exercise (religious) silence |
| 116. | Ἀπέχθειαν φεῦγε | Flee enmity |
| 117. | Πλούτει δικαίως | Acquire wealth justly |
| 118. | Δόξαν μὴ λεῖπε | Do not abandon honor |
| 119. | Κακίαν μίσει | Despise evil |
| 120. | Κινδύνευε φρονίμως | Venture into danger prudently |
| 121. | Μανθάνων μὴ κάμνε | Do not tire of learning |
| 122. | Φειδόμενος μὴ λεῖπε | Do not stop to be thrifty |
| 123. | Χρησμοὺς θαύμαζε | Admire oracles |
| 124. | Οὓς τρέφεις, ἀγάπα | Love whom you rear |
| 125. | Ἀπόντι μὴ μάχου | Do not oppose someone absent |
| 126. | Πρεσβύτερον αἰδοῦ | Respect the elder |
| 127. | Νεώτερον δίδασκε | Teach a youngster |
| 128. | Πλούτῳ ἀπίστει | Do not trust wealth |
| 129. | Σεαυτὸν αἰδοῦ | Respect yourself |
| 130. | Μὴ ἄρχε ὑβρίζειν | Do not begin to be insolent |
| 131. | Προγόνους στεφάνου | Crown your ancestors |
| 132. | Θνῆσκε ὑπὲρ πατρίδος | Die for your country |
| 133 | Τῷ βίῳ μὴ ἄχθου | Do not be discontented by life |
| 134. | Ἐπὶ νεκρῷ μὴ γέλα | Do not make fun of the dead |
| 135. | Ἀτυχοῦντι συνάχθου | Share the load of the unfortunate |
| 136. | Χαρίζου ἀβλαβῶς | Gratify without harming |
| 137. | Μὴ ἐπὶ παντὶ λυποῦ | Grieve for no one |
| 138. | Ἐξ εὐγενῶν γέννα | Beget from noble routes |
| 139. | Ἐπαγγέλλου μηδενί | Make promises to no one |
| 140. | Φθιμένους μὴ ἀδίκει | Do not wrong the dead |
| 141. | Εὖ πάσχε ὡς θνητός | Be well off as a mortal |
| 142. | Τύχῃ μὴ πίστευε | Do not trust fortune |
| 143. | Παῖς ὢν κόσμιος ἴσθι | As a child be well-behaved |
| 144. | Ἡβῶν ἐγκρατής | As a youth be self-disciplined |
| 145. | Μέσος δίκαιος | As of middle-age be just |
| 146. | Πρεσβύτης εὔλογος | As an old man be sensible |
| 147. | Τελευτῶν ἄλυπος | On reaching the end be without sorrow |
See also
References
Citations
- ^ Temenos Theon – The Delphic Maxims
- ^ Leslie Kurke, Aesopic Conversations: Popular Tradition, Cultural Dialogue, and the Invention of Greek Prose, Princeton University Press, 2010, p. 109.
- ^ H. Parke and D. Wormell, The Delphic Oracle, (Basil Blackwell, 1956), vol. 1, p. 389.
- ^ a b Greek Culture in Afghanistan and India: Old Evidence and New Discoveries, Shane Wallace, 2016, p.215
- ^ Greek Culture in Afghanistan and India: Old Evidence and New Discoveries, Shane Wallace, 2016, p.217
Sources
- Stobaeus, Anth. 3.1.173
- John Uebersax – Sentences of the Seven Sages