Myson of Chenae (also Khenai or Chen; Greek: Μύσων ὁ Χηνεύς) was known as one of the Seven Sages of Greece. All sources agree that he was a plain farmer, though they differ as to his place of birth and residence. He is said to have lived in the village of Chen, though this is variously located in Laconia or Crete. He is also said to be "of Oeta", which seems to be a reference to Mount Oeta; but the reference is sometimes read as "Etea" instead, which again may have been in Laconia or else in Crete.¹

According to Sosicrates, who quoted Hermippus, Myson was the son of Strymon, a tyrant of his country. He died at the age of 97.

In Protagoras, Plato lists Myson of Chen as one of the Seven Sages of Greece, instead of Periander, son of Kypselos, who was claimed as one by Stobaeus, citing Demetrius of Phaleron as his authority. Eudoxus also lists Myson, but omits Cleobulus instead.

The Oracle of Delphi proclaimed Myson the wisest of all men when Anacharsis consulted it:

"Myson of Chen in Oeta; this is he

Who for wiseheartedness surpasses thee;"

There is some confusion as to whether he was a true Spartan: "there is a story in Plutarch, (Quaest. Rom. 84), of Myson making in winter a fork for tossing the corn, and, when Chilon wondered at it, of his justifying himself by an apposite answer; where Myson is opposed, as a Perioecian farmer, to the noble Spartan".²

Quotations

"We should not investigate facts by the light of arguments, but arguments by the light of facts."

References

1. Diogenes Laertius 1.106-108; see also p. 159, J. Adam, Platonis Protagoras, Cambridge University Press 1893.
2. See also: Plato Protagoras; Diod. de Virt. et Vit. p. 551. Paus. X 24.1. Clement of Alexandria Stromata. I. p. 299. Sylf. Steph. Byz. in χην and ητια.
3. Diogenes Laertius. Lives of the Eminent Philosophers. Translated by R. D. Hicks. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. Volume 1. 1982. Page 113.

External links

• Detailed entry from Lives of the Eminent Philosophers

This article incorporates material from the Wikinfo article "Myson of Chen" http://www.wikinfo.org/wiki.php?title=Myson_of_Chen; used under the GNU Free Documentation License.