X. EMPEDOKLES.

Empedokles, son of Meton, grandson of an Empedokles who was a victor at Olympia, made his home at Akragas in Sicily. He was born about 494 B.C., and lived to the age of sixty. The only sure date in his life is his visit to Thourioi soon after its foundation (444). Various stories are told of his political activity, which may be genuine traditions; these illustrate a democratic tendency. At the same time he claimed almost the homage due to a god, and many miracles are attributed to him. His writings in some parts are said to imitate Orphic verses, and apparently his religious activity was in line with this sect. His death occurred away from Sicily—probably in the Peloponnesos.

Literature:—Sturz, Emped. vita et phil. carm. rell. Lips. 1805; Karsten, Emped. carm. rell. Amst. 1838; Bergk, Kleine Schriften, Berl. 1839; Panzerbieter, Beitr. z. Kritik u. Erkl. d. Emped. Meining. 1844; Stein, Emped. Frag. Bonn 1852; Schneidewin, Philol. xv.; H. Diels; Hermes xv. pp. 161-179; Gorgias und Empedocles, Acad. Berol. 1884; Unger, Philol. Suppl. 1883, pp. 511-550; O. Kern, Archiv f. d. Gesch. d. Philos. i. 498 ff.; Knatz, ‘Empedoclea’ in Schedae Phil. H. Usener oblatae, Bonn 1891; A. Platt, Journal of Philology, xxiv. p. 246; Bidez, Archiv, ix. 190; Gomperz, Hermes, xxxi. p. 469.

Note.—I print Stein’s numbers at the left of the Greek text, Karsten’s numbers at the right.

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