"Know Thyself" - Inscription carved into Apollo's Temple at Delphi.
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| Contemplative at Delphi |
I travelled to Greece myself inspired by the philosophical traditions, excited by the heroic exploits recounted by Homer of the warriors who fought in the Trojan War, and surprised by the prophetic power of Thucydides' treatise on International Relations - The History of the Peloponnesian War. These texts had formed my core texts when I studied for my Classics degree at the University of London. There is always something that will not be in the texts, something you can only elicit by being in the places that the books refer to. If I had not visited Delphi personally, there is no reason why I would have sought, or even imagined there to exist anything called Delphic Maxims.
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| The long overland journey from Athens to Meteora via Delphi in Greece, Sept 2012 |
by Kudakwashe Kanhutu
The Delphic Maxims are aphorisms said to have been given by the Greek god Apollo's Oracle of Delphi, so attributed to Apollo. Some are said to have been attributed to The Seven Sages of Greece. The most famous one is perhaps "Know thyself" and was carved into Apollo's Temple at Delphi.
| 001. | Επου θεω
| Follow God |
| 002. | Νομω πειθου
| Obey the law |
| 003. | Θεους σεβου
| Worship the Gods |
| 004. | Γονεις αιδου
| Respect your parents |
| 005. | Ηττω υπο δικαιου
| Be overcome by justice |
| 006. | Γνωθι μαθων
| Know what you have learned |
| 007. | Ακουσας νοει
| Perceive what you have heard |
| 008. | Σαυτον ισθι
| Be Yourself or Know Yourself |
| 009. | Γαμειν μελλε
| Intend to get married |
| 010. | Καιρον γνωθι
| Know your opportunity |
| 011. | Φρονει θνητα
| Think as a mortal |
| 012. | Ξενος ων ισθι
| If you are a stranger act like one |
| 013. | Εστιαν τιμα
| Honor the hearth (or Hestia) |
| 014. | Αρχε σεαυτου
| Control yourself |
| 015. | Φιλοις βοηθει
| Help your friends |
| 016. | Θυμου κρατει
| Control anger |
| 017. | Φρονησιν ασκει
| Exercise prudence |
| 018. | Προνοιαν τιμα
| Honor providence |
| 019. | Ορκω μη χρω
| Do not use an oath |
| 020. | Φιλιαν αγαπα
| Love friendship |
| 021. | Παιδειας αντεχου
| Cling to discipline |
| 022. | Δοξαν διωκε
| Pursue honor |
| 023. | Σοφιαν ζηλου
| Long for wisdom |
| 024. | Καλον ευ λεγε
| Praise the good |
| 025. | Ψεγε μηδενα
| Find fault with no one |
| 026. | Επαινει αρετην
| Praise virtue |
| 027. | Πραττε δικαια
| Practice what is just |
| 028. | Θιλοις ευνοει
| Be kind to friends |
| 029. | Εχθρους αμυνου
| Watch out for your enemies |
| 030. | Ευγενειαν ασκει
| Exercise nobility of character |
| 031. | Κακιας απεχου
| Shun evil |
| 032. | Κοινος γινου
| Be impartial |
| 033. | Ιδια φυλαττε
| Guard what is yours |
| 034. | Αλλοτριων απεχου
| Shun what belongs to others |
| 035. | Ακουε παντα
| Listen to everything |
| 036. | Ευφημος ιοθι
| Be (religiously) silent |
| 037. | Φιλω χαριζου
| Do a favor for a friend |
| 038. | Μηδεν αγαν
| Nothing to excess |
| 039. | Χρονου φειδου
| Use time sparingly |
| 040. | Ορα το μελλον
| Foresee the future |
| 041. | Υβριν μισει
| Despise insolence |
| 042. | Ικετας αιδου
| Have respect for suppliants |
| 043. | Παςιν αρμοζου
| Be accommodating in everything |
| 044. | Υιους παιδευε
| Educate your sons |
| 045. | Εχων χαριζου
| Give what you have |
| 046. | Δολον φοβου
| Fear deceit |
| 047. | Ευλογει παντας
| Speak well of everyone |
| 048. | Φιλοσοφος γινου
| Be a seeker of wisdom |
| 049. | Οσια κρινε
| Choose what is divine |
| 050. | Γνους πραττε
| Act when you know |
| 051. | Φονου απεχου
| Shun murder |
| 052. | Ευχου δυνατα
| Pray for things possible |
| 053. | Σοφοις χρω
| Consult the wise |
| 054. | Ηθος δοκιμαζε
| Test the character |
| 055. | Λαβων αποδος
| Give back what you have received |
| 056. | Υφορω μηδενα
| Down-look no one |
| 057. | Τεχνη χρω
| Use your skill |
| 058. | Ο μελλεις, δος
| Do what you mean to do |
| 059. | Ευεργεςιας τιμα
| Honor a benefaction |
| 060. | Φθονει μηδενι
| Be jealous of no one |
| 061. | Φυλακη προσεχε
| Be on your guard |
| 062. | Ελπιδα αινει
| Praise hope |
| 063. | Διαβολην μισει
| Despise a slanderer |
| 064. | Δικαιως κτω
| Gain possessions justly |
| 065. | Αγαθους τιμα
| Honor good men |
| 066. | Κριτην γνωθι
| Know the judge |
| 067. | Γαμους κρατει
| Master wedding-feasts |
| 068. | Τυχην νομιζε
| Recognize fortune |
| 069. | Εγγυην φευγε
| Flee a pledge |
| 070. | Αμλως διαλεγου
| Speak plainly |
| 071. | Ομοιοις χρω
| Associate with your peers |
| 072. | Δαπανων αρχου
| Govern your expenses |
| 073. | Κτωμενος ηδου
| Be happy with what you have |
| 074. | Αισχυνην σεβου
| Rever a sense of shame |
| 075. | Χαριν εκτελει
| Fulfill a favor |
| 076. | Ευτυχιαν ευχου
| Pray for happiness |
| 077. | Τυχην στεργε
| Be fond of fortune |
| 078. | Ακουων ορα
| Observe what you have heard |
| 079. | Εργαζου κτητα
| Work for what you can own |
| 080. | Εριν μισει
| Despise strife |
| 081. | Ονειδς εχθαιρε
| Detest disgrace |
| 082. | Γλωτταν ισχε
| Restrain the tongue |
| 083. | Υβριν αμυνου
| Keep yourself from insolence |
| 084. | Κρινε δικαια
| Make just judgements |
| 085. | Χρω χρημασιν
| Use what you have |
| 086. | Αδωροδοκητος δικαζε
| Judge incorruptibly |
| 087. | Αιτιω παροντα
| Accuse one who is present |
| 088. | Λεγε ειδως
| Tell when you know |
| 089. | Βιας μη εχου
| Do not depend on strength |
| 090. | Αλυπως βιου
| Live without sorrow |
| 091. | Ομιλει πραως
| Live together meekly |
| 092. | Περας επιτελει μη αποδειλιων
| Finish the race without shrinking back |
| 093. | Φιλοφρονει πασιν
| Deal kindly with everyone |
| 094. | Υιοις μη καταρω
| Do not curse your sons |
| 095. | Γυναικος αρχε
| Rule your wife |
| 096. | Σεαυτον ευ ποιει
| Benefit yourself |
| 097. | Ευπροσηγορος γινου
| Be courteous |
| 098. | Αποκρινου εν καιρω
| Give a timely response |
| 099. | Πονει μετ ευκλειας
| Struggle with glory |
| 100. | Πραττε αμετανοητως
| Act without repenting |
| 101. | Αμαρτανων μετανοει
| Repent of sins |
| 102. | Οφθαλμου κρατει
| Control the eye |
| 103. | Βουλευου χρονω
| Give a timely counsel |
| 104. | Πραττε συντομως
| Act quickly |
| 105. | Φιλιαν φυλαττε
| Guard friendship |
| 106. | Ευγνωμων γινου
| Be grateful |
| 107. | Ομονοιαν διωκε
| Pursue harmony |
| 108. | Αρρητον κρυπτε
| Keep deeply the top secret |
| 109. | Το κρατουν φοβου
| Fear ruling |
| 110. | Το συμφερον θηρω
| Pursue what is profitable |
| 111. | Καιρον προσδεχου
| Accept due measure |
| 112. | Εχθρας διαλυε
| Do away with enmities |
| 113. | Γηρας προσδεχου
| Accept old age |
| 114. | Επι ρωμη μη καυχω
| Do not boast in might |
| 115. | Ευφημιαν ασκει
| Exercise (religious) silence |
| 116. | Απεχθειαν φευγε
| Flee enmity |
| 117. | Πλουτει δικιως
| Acquire wealth justly |
| 118. | Δοξαν μη λειπε
| Do not abandon honor |
| 119. | Κακιαν μισει
| Despise evil |
| 120. | Κινδυνευε φρονιμως
| Venture into danger prudently |
| 121. | Μανθανων μη καμνε
| Do not tire of learning |
| 122. | Φειδομενος μη λειπε
| Do not stop to be thrifty |
| 123. | Χρησμους θαυμαζε
| Admire oracles |
| 124. | Ους τρεφεις αγαπα
| Love whom you rear |
| 125. | Αποντι μη μαχου
| Do not oppose someone absent |
| 126. | Πρεσβυτερον αιδου
| Respect the elder |
| 127. | Νεωτερον διδασκε
| Teach a youngster |
| 128. | Πλουτω απιστει
| Do not trust wealth |
| 129. | Σεαυτον αιδου
| Respect yourself |
| 130. | Μη αρχε υβριζειν
| Do not begin to be insolent |
| 131. | Προγονους στεφανου
| Crown your ancestors |
| 132. | Θνησκε υπερ πατριδος
| Die for your country |
| 133 | Τω βιω μη αχθου.
| Do not be discontented by life |
| 134. | Επι νεκρω μη γελα
| Do not make fun of the dead |
| 135. | Ατυχουντι συναχθου
| Share the load of the unfortunate |
| 136. | Χαριζου αβλαβως
| Gratify without harming |
| 137. | Μη επι παντι λυπου
| Grieve for no one |
| 138. | Εξ ευγενων γεννα
| Beget from noble routes |
| 139. | Επαγγελου μηδενι
| Make promises to no one |
| 140. | Φθιμενους μη αδικει
| Do not wrong the dead |
| 141. | Ευ πασχε ως θνητος
| Be well off as a mortal |
| 142. | Τυχη μη πιστευε
| Do not trust fortune |
| 143. | Παις ων κοσμιος ισθι
| As a child be well-behaved |
| 144. | ηβων εγκρατης
| As a youth - self-disciplined |
| 145. | μεσος δικαιος
| As of middle-age - just |
| 146. | πρεσβυτης ευλογος
| As an old man - sensible |
| 147. | τελευτων αλυπος
| On reaching the end - without sorrow |
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| The proven remedy for every long journey |
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