Cleinias of Tarentum (
Greek: Κλεινίας; fl. 4th-century BCE),
Magna Graecia, was a
Pythagorean philosopher,
[1] and a contemporary and friend of
Plato, as appears from the story (perhaps otherwise worthless) which
Diogenes Laërtius gives on the authority of
Aristoxenus, to the effect that Plato wished to burn all the writings of
Democritus which he could collect, but was prevented by Cleinias and
Amyclus of Heraclea.
[2] In his practice, Cleinias was a true Pythagorean. Thus, we hear that he used to assuage his anger by playing on his harp; and, when
Prorus of Cyrene had lost all his fortune through a political revolution, Cleinias, who knew nothing of him except that he was a Pythagorean, took on himself the risk of a voyage to
Cyrene, and supplied him with money to the full extent of his loss.
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
Two fragments of Pythagorean pseudepigrapha are attributed to Cleinias, one preserved by Stobaeus, the other in the Theology of Arithmetic attributed to Iamblichus. [10]
Cleinias of Tarentum (
Greek: Κλεινίας; fl. 4th-century BCE),
Magna Graecia, was a
Pythagorean philosopher,
[1] and a contemporary and friend of
Plato, as appears from the story (perhaps otherwise worthless) which
Diogenes Laërtius gives on the authority of
Aristoxenus, to the effect that Plato wished to burn all the writings of
Democritus which he could collect, but was prevented by Cleinias and
Amyclus of Heraclea.
[2] In his practice, Cleinias was a true Pythagorean. Thus, we hear that he used to assuage his anger by playing on his harp; and, when
Prorus of Cyrene had lost all his fortune through a political revolution, Cleinias, who knew nothing of him except that he was a Pythagorean, took on himself the risk of a voyage to
Cyrene, and supplied him with money to the full extent of his loss.
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
Two fragments of Pythagorean pseudepigrapha are attributed to Cleinias, one preserved by Stobaeus, the other in the Theology of Arithmetic attributed to Iamblichus. [10]