The Pre-Socratic Atlas
A map of the cities that gave us the Pre-Socratics and the Sophists
Of the early Greek philosophers, surprisingly few were born in Athens. I had always equated early philosophy with that city, but the Pre-Socratics lived along the edges of the Greek world. They lived in Ionia, Magna Graecia, Sicily, and Thrace. Many later traveled to Athens, and some settled there, but this map shows how wide their world actually was.
Pre-Socratics:
Thales • Miletus (Ionia) • 625 - 545 BC
Anaximander • Miletus (Ionia) • c. 610–546 BC
Anaximenes • Miletus (Ionia) • c. 585–528 BC
Pythagoras • Samos (born); Croton (school) • c. 570–495 BC
Alcmaeon • Croton (Magna Graecia) • c. 570–490 BC
Xenophanes • Colophon (Ionia); lived in Magna Graecia • c. 570–475 BC
Heraclitus • Ephesus (Ionia) • c. 535–475 BC
Parmenides • Elea (Magna Graecia) • c. 515–445 BC
Melissus • Samos • c. 470–430 BC
Zeno • Elea (Magna Graecia) • c. 490–430 BC
Empedocles • Acragas (Sicily) • 495 - 435 BC
Hippasus • Metapontum (Pythagorean) • c. 500–450 BC
Philolaus • Croton/Tarentum (Pythagorean) • c. 470–385 BC
Ion of Chios • Chios • c. 480–420 BC
Hippo • Samos or Rhegium • 5th century BC
Anaxagoras • Clazomenae (Ionia); lived in Athens • c. 500–428 BC
Archelaus • Athens (Miletus origins) • 5th century BC
Leucippus • Miletus or Abdera • c. 460–? BC
Democritus • Abdera (Thrace) • c. 460–370 BC
Diogenes of Apollonia • Apollonia • 5th century BC
Sophists:
Gorgias • Leontini, Sicily (worked in Athens) • c. 483 – c. 375 BCE
Protagoras • Abdera (worked in Athens) • c. 490 – c. 420 BCE
Prodicus • Ceos (Iulis) • c. 465 – c. 395 BCE
Hippias • Elis • c. 460 – c. 399 BCE
Antiphon • Athens (Rhamnus) • c. 480 – 411 BCE
Thrasymachus • Chalcedon (worked in Athens) • c. 459 – c. 400 BCE
Critias • Athens • c. 460 – 403 BCE
Lycophron • Unknown (associate of Gorgias) • 5th – early 4th century BCE
Callicles • Acharnae, Athens • 5th century BCE (fl. c. 420 BCE)
Euthydemus • Chios (later Thurii) • 5th century BCE (fl. c. 420 BCE)
Dionysodorus • Chios (later Thurii) • 5th century BCE (fl. c. 420 BCE)
This is fascinating! I had no idea the pre-Socratics were so spread out; sometimes I don't think I give the ancient world enough credit for being as well-connected as it was. Thanks for the helpful visual.