Seven Sages

the Seven Sages pl (plural only)

1. (historical) Seven Ancient Greek men renowned for their wisdom: Thales, Solon, Periander, Cleobulus, Chilon, Bias, and Pittacus.

• According to Ammonius, the “Seven Sages” authors of the Delphi maxims were not seven but five: Solon of Athens, Chilon of Sparta, Thales of Miletus, Bias of Priene, and Pittacus of Mitylene. Cleobulus the tyrant of Lindos and Periander the tyrant of Corinth used their political and economic power to be included on the list. That way the original five sages became “the Seven Sages” of Ancient Greece.