The history of philosophy, in eight parts by Thomas Stanley.

CHAP. I.

Anacharsis his life and writings.

THose Nations (saith Herodotus) which border upon the Euxine Sea, are of all most illiterate, the Scythians onely excepted; we can alledge nothing relating to learning of any people within the compass of that Sea, neither know we any person learned but the Scythi∣ans Ana••harsis; Amongst these, notwithstan∣ding the roughnesse of their education, (for they fed upon mares milke and dwelt in wagons) were some who far exceed∣ed all in iustice.

Such was Anacharsis, son of Gnurus brother of Cadovides King of Scythia; his mother a Grecian, by which meanes he had the advantage of two languages, but was owner of no other house then the custome of that country allow'd, a Chariot, whence he compared his dwel∣ling to that of the sun, carri'd in that manner round the heavens.

The Scythians never travell beyond their own confines, but Anacharsis as a person endued with more then ordinary wise∣dome extended his journey further, being sent by the King of Scythia to Greece, He came to Athens in the first yeare of the 47. Olympiad, Eucrates being Archon: and first met with Toxaris one of his owne country, by whom, as the most compendious way to take a survey of Athens and Greece, he was addrest to Solon: how Solon received and entertained him is already related in his life: he instructed him in the best disciplines, recommended him to the favour of noblest persons, and sought all means of giving him respect and honour. Anacharsis admired his wis∣dome, continually followed him, in a short space learnt all things of him, and was kindly received by every one for his sake; being (as Theoxenus attests) the only stranger whom they incorporated into their City.

Thus was he much honoured by the Grecians for his per∣fection, wisdome, temperance, wherein he excelled many of their Philosophers, whereupon they conferred the attribute of wise upon him, some accompting him one of the seven: Peri∣ander invited him with the rest to Corinth; the feast is largely de∣scribed by Plutarch: There Anacharsis carrying with him Chaplets of Flowers, Ivy, and Laurell, drunk, as the Scythians use, to great

excesse, and required the prize of drinking to be given him, because he was first drunk: In a race (saith he) he wins, who comes first at the ••ost, in drinking, he who comes first to the end deserves the r••ward.

Having seen much of the world, and improved his knowledge, he re∣turned to Scythia (as Lucian conjectures, not untill Solon were dead) As he sailed along the Hellespont, he put in at Cyricum, and finding the people celebrating a festivall to the Mother of the Gods, with much splendor and muni••icence; he made a vow, if he got safe home, to sa∣crifice in the same manner as he had seen those of Cyricum, and to insti∣tute a Vigill. When he came into Scythia, he withdrew himselfe privately to Hylaea, near the Achillean course, a place abounding with 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ and performed the Rites of the Goddesse with a Timbrell (and Cymball about his Neck) A Scythian espying him, carried word to Sauli••s the King, who went immediately thither, and being an eye-witnesse thereof, shot him through with an Arrow ( to punish his effeminacy, and prevent the infection thereof in others) And now if any en∣quire concerning Anacharsis, the Scythians deny they knew him, because he travelled into Greece, and affected the customes of that Country. As I am informed by Timnes, tutor of Spargapithes, he was uncle to Inda∣thyrsus, King of Scythia, son of Gnurus, son of Lycus, son of Spar∣gapithes: Now Anacharsis being of his family, it is manifest he was slain by his brother, (that his brother was King of Scythia, and slew him, is confirmed by Laertius, though he differ in the name) for Indathyrsus was son of Saulius, Saulius was he who slew Anachar∣sis, and consequently is the same whom Laertius calls Cadovides, adding, some report that he shot him in hunting; for being addicted to the Greek customes, and endeavouring to alter the lawes of Scythia; whereupon he dying, said, he returned safe out of Greece, guarded by his own wis∣dome, but was slain at home by the envy of others. Upon him Laertius hath this Epigram,

From travell Anacharsis came at last, And Scythia in a Grecian mould would cast▪ Whilst he was teaching how, by the surprize Of a wing'd arrow carried to the skies.

There were many statues erected in honour of him by the Grecians, upon which was writ, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 He was temperate and skilfull in many things; he freely and largely dis∣coursed of the manner of diet & medicine, which the Scythians used in curing the sick. From the plain freedome he used in speech, arose a Proverb, The Scythian phrase. He writ eight hun∣dred verses of orders for the Scythians and Greeks, concerning frugall living, and martiall affairs. There are also two Epistles of his extant.

Anacharsis to Croesus.

KIng of the Lydians, I came into Greece to be informed of their manners and studies; I need not mony, it is enough if I can return into Scythia bettered: but •• will come to Sardys, because I highly esteem your favour.

Anacharsis to Hanno, health.

MY apparell is a Scythian rug, my shooes the hardnesse of my feet, my bed, the earth, my sauce hunger; I feed on milk, cheese, and flesh: you may come to me as to one that's contented: but those gif••s which you so much esteem, bestow either on your Citizens, or the immortall Gods.

He is said to have invented tinder, the anchor, and the Potters wheele; but this latter is by Strabo evinc'd cleerly to be false, because mentioned by Homer, who lived long before him, Anacharsis being in the time of Croesus.

Notes

• Lib. 4▪ 46▪
• Strab. lib. 7.
• Laert.
• Plut. conviv. sept. sap.
• Elian. var. hist. lib. 5.
• Herod. 4. 46.
• Laert.
• Lucian. Scyth.
• Strab. lib. 7.
• Clem. Alex. Strom. 1.
• Clem. Alex. Strom. 5.
• Elian. lib. 2.
• Athen. deipn. 10.
• Herod. 4. 76.
• Clem. Alex. admonit adgent.
• Clem. Aleu. ibid.
• Herodot. con∣tinues.
• For 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 read 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Spargapitbes. 1.
• Lycus. 1.
• Gnutus. 1.
• Anacharsis. Saulius, or Caduida. 1.
• Indathyrsus.
• Laert. Plut. conviv. sept. sap.
• Laert. Plut. con••••iv. sept•• sap.
• Laert.
• Cic. Tuscul. quaest. 5.
• Clem▪ Alex. cites this frag∣m••nt, doubtlesse out of the same Epistle, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉&c. Strom. 1.
• Strab. lib. 7.
• Laert. Suid.
• Suidas.