A Radical Thinker in Ancient Greece
Anaxagoras, born around 500 BCE in Clazomenae, Ionia, moved to Athens, where he introduced new ideas about the cosmos. He proposed that the Sun was not a deity but a fiery, hot rock, much larger than the Peloponnese, and that the Moon reflected the Sun’s light.
A Clash with Tradition
These ideas contradicted traditional Greek beliefs, which saw celestial bodies as divine. His views on the Sun led to accusations of impiety, a serious crime in Athens. Anaxagoras was arrested and put on trial around 450 BCE.
Pericles Intervenes
Pericles, the influential Athenian statesman and Anaxagoras’ friend, intervened to secure his release. Nevertheless, Anaxagoras was forced to leave Athens and went to Lampsacus, a city in Asia Minor.
Final Years in Exile
In Lampsacus, Anaxagoras continued his work, teaching and developing his theories until his death around 428 BCE. The people of Lampsacus respected him so much that they honored him with a public memorial, fulfilling his request to celebrate the annual anniversary of his death.
The Greek Philosopher Who Dared to Call the Sun a Rock ☀️
A Radical Thinker in Ancient Greece
Anaxagoras, born around 500 BCE in Clazomenae, Ionia, moved to Athens, where he introduced new ideas about the cosmos. He proposed that the Sun was not a deity but a fiery, hot rock,… pic.twitter.com/l8TCcioxNr— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TBBOB2) September 9, 2024