Anaxagoras

An altar to Mind and Truth was erected in his memory by the citizens of Lampsacus who observed his death anniversary for years.

Anaxagoras was born around 510 BC in Clazomenae, Ionia. He hailed from an aristocratic and wealthy family.

Not much is known about his early life except for the fact that he was blessed with a brilliant mind and had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. He probably spent his youth in Ionia, learning about new things and becoming interested in the scientific study of the world.

Realizing that his life’s purpose was to search for knowledge, he renounced his riches and devoted himself to science.

He moved to Athens around 480 BC. Although many great philosophers including Pythagoras had been born in Ionia, the new study of philosophy was alien to Athens.

Anaxagoras introduced the concept of philosophy to Athenians. During his lifetime Socrates, who would one day become a major philosopher himself, was a young boy. Thus Anaxagoras is considered to be an eminent philosopher of the Pre-Socratic period.

Athens at that time was fast developing as the center of Greek culture, and Anaxagoras played a significant role in the scientific and cultural developments of that period.

During his stay in Athens, Pericles rose to power. Pericles was a prominent statesman and general of Athens who had a profound influence on the Athenian society. He took a liking to Anaxagoras and was impressed by his pursuit of scientific enquiry.

Even though Anaxagoras and the would-be philosopher Socrates both lived in Athens, there are no accounts to suggest that the two ever met. However, there are reports that Archelaus, one of the pupils of Anaxagoras later became the teacher of young Socrates.

The Pre-Socratic philosopher Anaxagoras is credited to have introduced the Athenians to the concept of philosophy. His contributions to the field of cosmology have been immense as he was probably the first person to state the correct reason behind the occurrence of eclipses.

He claimed that the sun was not a god as people of his time believed, but a heavenly body composed of blazing metal. This observation of his led to him being charged of impiety.