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ANACHARSISScythia, 589 B.C. |
A Scythian of royal blood. Driven of his thirst for knowledge, he went to Greece and visited Athens to become a friend of Solon, and to Corinth where he created a bond with Periandrus. Herodotus mentions that during his journey he saw a ceremony in favor of Demeter, goddess of agriculture, and immediately swore to bring this worship to his homeland.
However, on returning to Schythia, he was murdered in his attempt to fulfill his oath, by his brother Saulius. Anaharsis became popular in Greece, where he was considered one of the Seven Sages. Croesus called him in Sardes, while many Greeks studied his maxims, and admired his swift thinking, perception and knowledge of Greek affairs. Out of nine letters he conduct, Cicero translated the fifth.