DEMOCRITUS

, one of the greatest philosophers of antiquity, was born at Abdera, a town of Thrace, about the 80th olympiad, or about 400 years before Christ. His father, says Valerius Maximus, was able to entertain the army of Xerxes; and Diogenes Laertius adds, upon the testimony of Herodotus, that the king, in requital, presented him with some Magi and Chaldeans. From these, it seems, Democritus received the first part of his education; and from them, whilst yet a boy, he learned theology and astronomy. He next applied to Leucippus, from whom he learned the | system of atoms and a vacuum. His father dying, he and his two brothers divided his effects. Democritus made choice of that part which consisted in money, as being, though the least share, the most convenient for travelling; and it is said that his portion amounted to more than 100 talents, which is near 20 thousand pounds sterling. His extraordinary inclination for knowledge and the sciences, induced him to travel into all parts of the world where he might find learned men. He went to visit the priests of Egypt, from whom he learned geometry: He consulted the Chaldean and Persian philosophers: and it is said that he penetrated even into India and Ethiopia, to confer with the Gymnosophists. In these travels he wasted his substance; after which, at his return he was obliged for some time to be maintained by his brother. Settling himself at Abdera, he there governed in the most absolute manner, by virtue of his consummate wisdom. The magistrates of that city made him a present of 500 talents, and erected statues to him, even in his lifetime: but being naturally more inclined to contemplation than delighted with public honours and employments, he withdrew into solitude and retirement.

Democritus always laughed at human life, as a continued farce, which made the people think he was mad; on which they sent for Hippocrates to cure him: but that celebrated physician having discoursed with the philosopher, told the people that he had a great veneration for Democritus; and that, in his opinion, those who esteemed themselves the most healthy, were the most distempered.

It is said, though with little probability, that Democritus put out his own eyes, that he might meditate more profoundly on philosophical subjects. He died, according to Diogenes Laertius, in the 361st year before the Christian era, at 109 years of age. He was the author of many books, which are lost; from which Epicurus borrowed his philosophy.