The Seven Sages of Greece (c. 620 BC-550 BC) was the title given by Greek tradition to seven wise ancient Greek men who were philosophers, statesmen and law-givers. They were philodorians. The Seven Sages are known for their practical wisdom which "consisted of pithy and memorable dicta". (1) Later, they met at Delphi to dedicate their wise sayings to the god Apollo. Socrates provides the earliest list of the so-called Seven Sages.
Other quotes attributed to the sages include: "Master anger"; "Look to the end of life"; " Avoid responsibility for others' debts"; and the characteristically Greek "Most men are bad".
Socrates obliquely refers to a tale of the Seven Sages which points out that humility is the basis of wisdom. This story is recorded by Diogenes Laertius. The story goes that some fishermen brought up the tripod of Helen of Troy who dropped it into the sea on her return voyage to Sparta. The Coans wanted it back and the fishermen refused. War broke out. Seeing no conclusion to the war, the combatants sent to Delphi inquiries on what to do with the Tripod. The oracle commanded the tripod to be given to the wisest man. So, the Coans sent it to Thales of Miletus. He modestly disclaimed the title and sent it to Bias of Prience, who also refused the honor and so it continued throughout the group. In the end, it was finally to be dedicated to Apollo; some say to Ismenian Apollo at Thebes, and others to Apollo at Delphi.
References
Protagoras, Plato, 343a-b.
Bibliography
Harper's Dictionary of Classical Literature and Antiquities, ed. by Harry Thurston Peck, Cooper Square Publishers, Inc., l962.
Brush Up Your Classics, Michael Macrone, Gramercy Books, NY, 1991.
The seven appeared at a time of incipient reunification of the Greek city states after a time of civil disorder and population displacements consequent on the fall of Mycenaean civilization.
This circumstance would account for the large number of people said to be in the seven, and also would have given Croesus and Cyrus a guest list for their courts, as they were patrons of the arts.
There were still sevensages at the court of Chosroes I, a king of the Sassanid dynasty, 531-579.
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