Tellus (Athenian)

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Tellus was an Athenian statesman featured in Herodotus's Histories, in which the wise man Solon describes him as the happiest man ever. To quote Herodotus:

Tellus... had both beautiful and good children, and he saw all his grandchildren from birth and all remaining alive... And the end of his life was most brilliant: for when the Athenians had a war against their neighbours in Eleusis, coming to the rescue and making a rout of the enemy he died most beautifully, and the Athenians had buried him publicly right where he fell, and honoured him greatly.

His "perfect" life helps historians infer Ancient Greek ideals about the most honorable and mentionable way to live.

After describing Tellus as the happiest of all men, Solon states that the second happiest men ever were the brothers Cleobis and Biton.

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Last updated on Sunday December 30, 2007 at 11:43:22 PST (GMT -0800)
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