Writings
Clearchus wrote extensively around 320 BCE on eastern cultures, from Persia to India, and several fragments from him are known. His book "Of Education" (Greek: Περὶ παιδείας, Peri paideiās) was preserved by Diogenes Laertius.
Clearchus in particular expressed several theories on the connection between western and eastern religions. In "Of Education", he wrote that "the gymnosophists are descendants of the Magi". In another text, quoted by Josephus, Clearchus reported a dialogue with Aristotle, where the philosopher states that the Hebrews were descendants of the Indian philosophers:
- "Jews are derived from the Indian philosophers; they are named by the Indians Calami, and by the Syrians Judaei, and took their name from the country they inhabit, which is called Judea; but for the name of their city, it is a very awkward one, for they call it Jerusalem." Josephus, Contra Apionem, I, 22.
His works included also:
- Βίοι (Bioi); a biographical work, of at least eight volumes
- A commentary on Plato's Timaeus
- Πλάτωνος ἐγκώμιον (Platōnos enkōmion); eulogy to Plato
- Περὶ τῶν ἐν τῇ Πλάτωνος Πολιτείᾳ μαϑηματικῶς ἐιρημένων (Peri tōn en tē Platōnos Polīteiā mathēmatikōs eirēmenōn); on the mathematical subjects in Plato's Republic
- Γεργίϑιος (Gergithios); a treatise on flattery
- Περὶ φιλίας (Peri filiās); on friendship
- Παροιμίαι (Paroimiai); proverbs
- Περὶ γρίφων (Peri griphōn); on riddles
- Ἐρωτικά (Erōtika); a probably historical collection of love-stories with some very odd questions on the subject
- Περὶ γραφῶν (Peri graphōn); on paintings
- Περιγραφαί (Perigraphai); ? the reading in Athenaeus is doubtful (XIV 648f)
- Περὶ νάρκης (Peri narkēs); on the Electric ray
- Περὶ τῶν ἐνύδρων (Peri tōn enudrōn); on water-animals
- Περὶ ϑινῶν (Peri thīnōn); on sand-wastes
- Περὶ σκελετῶν (Peri skeletōn); an anatomical work
- Περὶ ὕπνου (Peri upnou); on sleep (genuineness questionable)
There is some question as to whether the work on military tactics cited by Aelianus Tacticus should be ascribed to Clearchus of Soli or Clearchus of Heraclea.
Read more about this topic: Clearchus Of Soli
Famous quotes containing the word writings:
“It has come to be practically a sort of rule in literature, that a man, having once shown himself capable of original writing, is entitled thenceforth to steal from the writings of others at discretion. Thought is the property of him who can entertain it; and of him who can adequately place it. A certain awkwardness marks the use of borrowed thoughts; but, as soon as we have learned what to do with them, they become our own.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“If someday I make a dictionary of definitions wanting single words to head them, a cherished entry will be “To abridge, expand, or otherwise alter or cause to be altered for the sake of belated improvement, one’s own writings in translation.””
—Vladimir Nabokov (1899–1977)
“In this part of the world it is considered a ground for complaint if a man’s writings admit of more than one interpretation.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)