Cleobulus

Cleobulus (Ancient Greek: Κλεόβουλος ὁ Λίνδιος, Kleoboulos ho Lindios) was a Greek poet and one of the Seven Sages of Greece. He was a native of Lindos in Rhodes.

Sources differ on his parentage. Diogenes Laërtius claims his father was Evagoras, while other sources state his father was Aristander. He is said to have been a man of imposing stature and handsome appearance.

Cleobulus is credited with various pronouncements on ethics and practical wisdom, often expressed in poetic form. He emphasized moderation, self-control, and the importance of education. He is said to have traveled to Egypt to study philosophy.

He is credited with composing riddles, although none are definitively attributed to him with certainty. Some sources suggest he maintained the Temple of Athena at Lindos.

His writings, if any survived antiquity, are now lost. Information about him is gleaned primarily from secondary accounts and quotations found in the works of later authors.

The Suda, a 10th-century Byzantine encyclopedia, mentions Cleobulus and attributes certain sayings to him. These aphorisms typically deal with practical advice for leading a virtuous and successful life.

Cleobulus's dates are uncertain, but he is generally placed in the 6th century BC, contemporary with figures like Solon and Thales. He is considered a significant, albeit somewhat shadowy, figure in the intellectual history of ancient Greece.