The 147 Delphic Maxims

HELLENIC ETHNIC RELIGION & HONOUR




The 147 Delphic Maxims advise us Hellenes how to live a life of VIRTUE. Living a life of virtue for us is called "The Hellenic Value System of Living" and that is what our Hellenic National Religion & Honour is all about.

ΤΑ ΔΕΛΦΙΚΑ ΠΑΡΑΓΓΕΛΜΑΤΑ ΣΕ ΔΙΑΜΟΡΦΩΝΟΥΝ ΕΛΛΗΝΑ ΜΕ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΕΣ ΑΞΙΕΣ, ΙΔΑΝΙΚΑ, ΠΟΛΙΤΙΣΜΟ, ΓΝΩΣΕΙΣ, ΦΙΛΟΣΟΦΙΑ, ΑΡΕΤΕΣ, ΔΙΚΑΙΟΣΥΝΗ, ΦΙΛΟΠΑΤΡΙΑ, ΥΠΕΡΗΦΑΝΕΙΑ, ΕΝΕΡΓΕΙΑ, ΑΓΑΠΗ ΓΙΑ ΤΗ ΖΩΗ ΚΑΙ ΤΙΣ ΟΜΟΡΦΙΕΣ ΤΗΣ, ΤΟΝ ΕΡΩΤΑ ΚΑΙ ΤΗΝ ΑΝΑΠΤΥΞΗ ΤΟΥ ΑΝΘΡΩΠΙΣΜΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΤΩΝ ΣΥΝΑΙΣΘΗΜΑΤΩΝ, ΤΟΝ ΤΡΟΠΟ ΣΚΕΨΗΣ ΚΑΙ ΤΡΟΠΟ ΖΩΗΣ!

ΕΙΝΑΙ Η ΒΑΣΗ ΤΟΥ ΜΕΓΑΛΕΙΟΥ ΤΩΝ ΠΡΟΓΟΝΩΝ ΜΑΣ, ΓΙΑ ΟΣΟΥΣ ΘΕΛΟΥΝ ΝΑ ΑΝΑΠΤΥΧΘΟΥΝ ΠΝΕΥΜΑΤΙΚΑ ΚΑΙ ΝΑ ΚΑΛΛΙΕΡΓΗΣΟΥΝ ΨΥΧΗ ΚΑΙ ΣΩΜΑ, ΩΣΤΕ ΝΑ ΝΟΙΩΣΟΥΝ, ΝΑ ΑΓΓΙΞΟΥΝ, ΤΗΝ ΕΥΤΥΧΙΑ ΣΤΗ ΖΩΗ..

ΟΣΟΙ ΑΚΟΛΟΥΘΟΥΝ ΤΟΝ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟ, ΘΩΡΑΚΙΖΟΝΤΑΙ ΚΑΙ ΔΕΝ ΑΡΡΩΣΤΑΙΝΟΥΝ ΟΥΤΕ ΠΝΕΥΜΑΤΙΚΑ ΟΥΤΕ ΣΩΜΑΤΙΚΑ, ΔΙΟΤΙ Ο ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΣ ΕΙΝΑΙ, ΤΡΟΠΟΣ ΠΝΕΥΜΑΤΙΚΗΣ ΚΑΙ ΥΓΙΕΙΝΗΣ ΖΩΗΣ!

The Delphic Maxims are a collection of 147 maxims that are understood to be delivered by the deity Apollo Himself to the Oracle at Delphi, who divinely inspired the Seven Sages, seven early-6th-century BCE philosophers, mystics, politicians, and law-givers, who wrote them down. They are usually identified as:

§  Solon of Athens (c. 638 – 558 BCE) a famous legislator and reformer from Athens, framing the laws that shaped Athenian democracy.

§  Khilon of Sparta (fl. 6th century BCE) a Spartan politician to whom the militarization of Spartan society was attributed.

§  Thales of Miletos (c. 624 – c. 546 BCE) is the first well-known philosopher, mathematician, and astronomer. His maxim, “Know thyself,” was engraved on the front facade of the Oracle of Apollo in Delphi.

§  Bias of Priene (fl. 6th century BCE) was a politician and legislator known for being an advocate.

§  Kleoboulos of Lindos (fl. 6th century BCE) governed as tyrant of Lindos, in the Greek island of Rhodes.

§  Pittacus of Mitylene (c. 640 – 568 BCE) governed Mytilene on the island of Lesbos. He tried to reduce the power of the nobility and was able to govern with the support of the popular classes, whom he favored.

§  Periander of Korinthos (fl. 627 BCE) was the tyrant of Corinth in the 7th and 6th centuries BCE. Corinth saw a golden age of unprecedented stability during his rule.

They provide a framework for life of an honest, worthy way of living. They are guidelines and advice, not absolutes, as our ability to think and act for ourselves is a great good that is part of the soul’s essence. You cannot read the Delphic Maxims as absolutes. Especially because some of the maxims are ritual laws rather than moral laws or ethical rules, and following many of them is a matter of self-discipline and serves a ritual function, rather than a moral one. You’re not immoral if you don’t follow some of these, you’re just slightly messing up a ritual agreement and failing in self-discipline. To assume the maxims all relate to absolute morality is a mistake– especially given how many of them are very specific to the times they were written in. For example, Delphic Maxim 95 is Γυναικος αρχε, “Rule your wife.”

It is important to note that Hellenism has an oral tradition as well as a written one, and the oral tradition has reinterpreted many of the written maxims throughout history. There is no reason the oral Hellenic tradition cannot reinterpret them more now.



IN HELLENISM THERE IS NO NOTION OF SIN, THIS IS A FOREIGN CONCEPT FOR HELLENISM !!

1.     Follow God (Επου θεω)

2.     Obey the law (Νομω πειθου)

3.     Worship the Gods (Θεους σεβου)

4.     Respect your parents (Γονεις αιδου)

5.     Be overcome by justice (Ηττω υπο δικαιου)

6.     Know what you have learned (Γνωθι μαθων)

7.     Perceive what you have heard (Ακουσας νοει)

8.     Be (or Know) Yourself (Σαυτον ισθι)

9.     Intend to get married (Γαμειν μελλε)

10. Know your opportunity (Καιρον γνωθι)

11. Think as a mortal (Φρονει θνητα)

12. If you are a stranger act like one (Ξepsilon;νος ων ισθι)

13. Honor the hearth [or Hestia] (Εστιαν τιμα)

14. Control yourself (Αρχε σεαυτου)

15. Help your friends (Φιλοις βοηθει)

16. Control anger (Θυμου κρατει)

17. Exercise prudence (Φρονησιν ασκει)

18. Honor providence (Προνοιαν τιμα)

19. Do not use an oath (Ορκω μη χρω)

20. Love friendship (Φιλιαν αγαπα)

21. Cling to discipline (Παιδειας αντεχου)

22. Pursue honor (Δοξαν διωκε)

23. Long for wisdom (Σοφιαν ζηλου)

24. Praise the good (Καλον ευ λεγε)

25. Find fault with no one (Ψεγε μηδενα)

26. Praise virtue (Επαινει αρετην)

27. Practice what is just (Πραττε δικαια)

28. Be kind to friends (Θιλοις ευνοει)

29. Watch out for your enemies (Εχθρους αμυνου)

30. Exercise nobility of character (Ευγενειαν ασκει)

31. Shun evil (Κακιας απεχου)

32. Be impartial (Κοινος γινου)

33. Guard what is yours (Ιδια φυλαττε)

34. Shun what belongs to others (Αλλοτριων απεχου)

35. Listen to everyone (Ακουε παντα)

36. Be (religiously) silent (Ευφημος ιοθι)

37. Do a favor for a friend (Φιλω χαριζου)

38. Nothing to excess (Μηδεν αγαν)

39. Use time sparingly (Χρονου φειδου)

40. Foresee the future (Ορα το μελλον)

41. Despise insolence (Υβριν μισει)

42. Have respect for suppliants (Ικετας αιδου)

43. Be accommodating in everything (Παςιν αρμοζου)

44. Educate your sons (Υιους παιδευε)

45. Give what you have (Εχων χαριζου)

46. Fear deceit (Δολον φοβου)

47. Speak well of everyone (Ευλογει παντας)

48. Be a seeker of wisdom (Φιλοσοφος γινου)

49. Choose what is divine (Οσια κρινε)

50. Act when you know (Γνους πραττε)

51. Shun murder (Φονου απεχου)

52. Pray for things possible (Ευχου δυνατα)

53. Consult the wise (Σοφοις χρω)

54. Test the character (Ηθος δοκιμαζε)

55. Give back what you have received (Λαβων αποδος)

56. Down-look no one (Υφορω μηδενα)

57. Use your skill (Τεχνη χρω)

58. Do what you mean to do (Ο μελλεις, δος)

59. Honor a benefaction (Ευεργεςιας τιμα)

60. Be jealous of no one (Φθονει μηδενι)

61. Be on your guard (Φυλακη προσεχε)

62. Praise hope (Ελπιδα αινει)

63. Despise a slanderer (Διαβολην μισει)

64. Gain possessions justly (Δικαιως κτω)

65. Honor good men (Αγαθους τιμα)

66. Know the judge (Κριτην γνωθι)

67. Master wedding-feasts (Γαμους κρατει)

68. Recognize fortune (Τυχην νομιζε)

69. Flee a pledge (Εγγυην φευγε)

70. Speak plainly (Αμλως διαλεγου)

71. Associate with your peers (Ομοιοις χρω)

72. Govern your expenses (Δαπανων αρχου)

73. Be happy with what you have (Κτωμενος ηδου)

74. Rever a sense of shame (Αισχυνην σεβου)

75. Fulfill a favor (Χαριν εκτελει)

76. Pray for happiness (Ευτυχιαν ευχου)

77. Be fond of fortune (Τυχην στεργε)

78. Observe what you have heard (Ακουων ορα)

79. Work for what you can own (Εργαζου κτητα)

80. Despise strife (Εριν μισει)

81. Detest disgrace (Ονειδς εχθαιρε)

82. Restrain the tongue (Γλωτταν ισχε)

83. Keep yourself from insolence (Υβριν αμυνου)

84. Make just judgments (Κρινε δικαια)

85. Use what you have (Χρω χρημασιν)

86. Judge incorruptibly (Αδωροδοκητος δικαζε)

87. Accuse one who is present (Αιτιω παροντα)

88. Tell when you know (Λεγε ειδως)

89. Do not depend on strength (Βιας μη εχου)

90. Live without sorrow (Αλυπως βιου)

91. Live together meekly (Ομιλει πραως)

92. Finish the race without shrinking back (Περας επιτελει μη αποδειλιων))

93. Deal kindly with everyone (Φιλοφρονει πασιν)

94. Do not curse your sons (Υιοις μη καταρω)

95. Rule your wife (Γυναικος αρχε)

96. Benefit yourself (Σεαυτον ευ ποιει)

97. Be courteous (Ευπροσηγορος γινου)

98. Give a timely response (Αποκρινου εν καιρω)

99. Struggle with glory (Πονει μετ ευκλειας)

100.        Act without repenting (Πραττε αμετανοητως)

101.        Repent of sins (Αμαρτανων μετανοει)

102.        Control the eye (Οφθαλμοθ κρατει)

103.        Give a timely counsel (Βουλευου χρονω)

104.        Act quickly (Πραττε συντομως)

105.        Guard friendship (Φιλιαν φυλαττε)

106.        Be grateful (Ευγνωμων γινου)

107.        Pursue harmony (Ομονοιαν διωκε)

108.        Keep deeply the top secret (Αρρητον κρυπτε)

109.        Fear ruling (Το κρατουν φοβου)

110.        Pursue what is profitable (Το συμφερον θηρω)

111.        Accept due measure (Καιρον προσδεχου)

112.        Do away with enmities (Εχθρας διαλυε)

113.        Accept old age (Γηρας προσδεχου)

114.        Do not boast in might (Επι ρωμη μη καυχω)

115.        Exercise (religious) silence (Ευφημιαν ασκει)

116.        Flee enmity (Απεχθειαν φευγε)

117.        Acquire wealth justly (Πλουτει δικιως)

118.        Do not abandon honor (Δοξαν μη λειπε)

119.        Despise evil (Κακιαν μισει)

120.        Venture into danger prudently (Κινδυνευε φρονιμως)

121.        Do not tire of learning (Μανθανων μη καμνε)

122.        Do not stop to be thrifty (Φειδομενος μη λειπε)

123.        Admire oracles (Χρησμους θαυμαζε)

124.        Love whom you rear (Ους τρεφεις αγαπα)

125.        Do not oppose someone absent (Αποντι μη μαχου)

126.        Respect the elder (Πρεσβυτερον αιδου)

127.        Teach a youngster (Νεωτερον διδασκε)

128.         Do not trust wealth (Πλουτω απιστει)

129.        Respect yourself (Σεαυτον αιδου)

130.        Do not begin to be insolent (Μη αρχε υβριζειν)

131.        Crown your ancestors (Προγονους στεφανου)

132.        Die for your country (Θνησκε υπερ πατριδος)

133.        Do not be discontented by life (Τω βιω μη αχθου)

134.        Do not make fun of the dead (Επι νεκρω μη γελα)

135.        Share the load of the unfortunate (Ατυχουντι συναχθου)

136.        Gratify without harming (Χαριζου αβλαβως)

137.        Grieve for no one (Μη επι παντι λυπου)

138.        Beget from noble routes (Εξ ευγενων γεννα)

139.        Make promises to no one (Επαγγελου μηδενι)

140.        Do not wrong the dead (Φθιμενους μη αδικει)

141.        Be well off as a mortal (Ευ πασχε ως θνητος)

142.        Do not trust fortune (Τυχη μη πιστευε)

143.        As a child be well-behaved (Παις ων κοσμιος ισθι)

144.        as a youth – self-disciplined (ηβων εγκρατης)

145.        as of middle-age – just (μεσος δικαιος)

146.        as an old man – sensible (πρεσβυτης ευλογος)

147.        on reaching the end – without sorrow (τελευτων αλυπος)

It is important to give note that additional Maxims have been identified from various sources, likely local variants. These include:

4. Obey the virtuous
11. Live without sorrow
13. Avoid the unjust
14. Testify what is right
15. Control pleasure
22. Praise virtue
27. Train your relatives
55. Believe in time
56. Receive for the pleasure
57. Prostrate before the divine
60. Do not boast in might
62. Use the one who has the same interests as you.
64. Be embarrassed to lie
66. If you believe in something do not be scared to act for it
68. Be firm on what has been agreed