Empedocles
Empedocles EuropeA native of Acargas, modern Agrigento in Sicily, this Greek philosopher flourished during the fifth century BC. Apart from writings and lectures, Empedocles was renowned for his success in curing diseases as well as his active support of democratic principles. Legend says that he disappeared in the flames of Mount Aetna, his intention being to confirm the report that he had become a god. This motive was imputed to him when the volcano threw up one of his bronze slippers. Fire may have been the cause of his teacher's death, too: the citizens of Crotona in Italy had set alight the school of Pythagoras some years before. Clearly a fraternity of philosophers had to run a city-state if it was not to be victimized like the Pythagoreans. The archetypal incendiary was, of course, Herostratus, who in 356 BC burned down the great temple of Artemis at Ephesus so as to immortalize himself.
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