Cleobulus

• of Lindus, one of the Seven Sages, Aus. Sept. Sap. 1, 16, 5.

(Κλεόβουλος), one of the Seven Sages, was son of Evagoras and a citizen of Lindus in Rhodes, for Duris seems to stand alone in stating that he was a Carian. (D. L. 1.89 ; Strab. xiv. p.655.) He was a contemporary of Solon's, and must have lived at least as late as B. C. 560 (the date of the usurpation of Peisistratus), if the letter preserved in Diogenes Laertius is genuine, which purports to have been written by Cleobulus to Solon, inviting him to Lindus, as a place of refuge from the tyrant. In the same letter Lindus is mentioned as being under democratic government; but Clement of Alexandria (Strom. 4.19) calls Cleobulus king of the Lindians, and Plutarch (de Εἰ ap. Delph. 3) speaks of him as a tyrant. These statements may, however, be reconciled, by supposing him to have held, as αἰσυμνήτης, an authority delegated by the people through election. (Arist. Polit. 3.14, 15, ad fin. 4.10, ed. Bekk.) Much of the philosophy of Cleobulus is said to have been derived from Egypt. He wrote also lyric poems, as well as riddles (γρίφους) in verse. Diogenes Laertius also ascribes to him the inscription on the tomb of Midas, of which Homer was considered by others to have been the author (comp. Plat. Phaedr. p. 264), and the riddle on the year (ελ̔͂ς ὁ πατήπ, παῖδες δὲ δυώδεκα, κ. τ. λ.), generally attributed to his daughter Cleobuline. He is said to have lived to the age of sixty, and to have been greatly distinguished for strength and beauty of person. Many of his sayings are on record, and one of them at least,--δεῖν συνοικίζειν τὰς Δυγατέρας, παρθένους μέν τὴν ἡλικίαν, τῷ δὲ φρονεῖν γυναῖκας,--shews him to have had worthier views of female education than were generally prevalent; while that he acted on them is clear from the character of his daughter. (D. L. 1.89-93; Suid. s. v. Κλεόβουλος; Clem. Alex. Strom. 1.14; Fabric. Bibl. Graec. ii. pp. 117, 121, 654; comp. Dict. of Ant. s. v. Χελιδόνια.) [E.E]

(Κλεόβουλος), ephor with Xenares at Sparta B. C. 422-1, the second year of the peace of Nicias. To this peace they were hostile, and signalized their ephoralty by an intrigue with the Boeotians and Corinthians, with the purpose of forming anew the Lacedaemonian league so as to include the Argives, the fear of whose hostility was the main obstacle in the way of the war-party at Sparta. (Thuc. 5.36-38.) [A.H.C]

(Κλεόβουλος). One of the Seven Sages, of Lindus in Rhodes, son of Evagoras, lived about B.C. 580. He and his daughter, Cleobuliné or Cleobulé, were celebrated for their skill in riddles. To the latter is ascribed a well-known one on the subject of the year: “A father has twelve children, and each of these thirty daughters, on one side white, and on the other side black, and, though immortal, they all die.” See Aenigma; Seven Sages.

• one of Seven Sages: Paus. 10.24.1