# Anacharsis — The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers character guide

> Anacharsis in The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers by Diogenes Laërtius.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Anacharsis the Scythian, the Scythian Anacharsis

**First appearance:** 0011-anacharsis-the-scythian

## Snapshot

A Scythian prince of mixed Greek blood who talked his way into Solon's house, wrote verse on war and temperance, and was killed by his own brother for loving Greek customs too well.

## Who they are

Anacharsis arrives in Athens as a foreigner with two languages and no patience for ceremony, and his blunt wit—the 'Scythian conversation'—becomes a proverb. He wins Solon's friendship by sheer audacity at the doorstep, then returns home to reform Scythian law and is shot by his brother while hunting. His fate gives the book one of its earliest and sharpest lessons: the wisdom that travels well is often the wisdom that gets you killed at home.

## In the story

### [Anacharsis, the Scythian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/anacharsis-the-scythian)

The Scythian philosopher who visits Athens, befriends Solon, and is later killed by his brother for advocating Greek customs.

### [Myson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/chapters/myson)

Inquires at Delphi about who is wiser than he, leading to the oracle naming Myson.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/characters/anacharsis
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lives_and_opinions_of_eminent_philosophers_se/characters