Pittacus of Mytilene by Jacques de Gheyn III



This imaginary portrait of Pittacus is by Jacques de Gheyn III (1596-1641). Pittacus of Mytilene was one of the semi-ledgendary
Seven Sages of Ancient Greece. Of this list of c. 650-550 BCE figures, the most familiar are Thales of Miletus and Solon of Athens.
Jacques de Gheyn III did a series of imaginary portraits of the Seven Sages. I like the way the symbolic elements in this image
are based on the stories told about Pittacus. On the floor at the left is a net. Diogenes Laertius writes:

"And when the Athenians and Mytilenaens fought over the territory of Achileis, Pittacus served as the Mytilenaens' general.
Phrynon, an Olympic victor in the pancratium, commanded the Athenians. Pittacus agreed to meet Phrynon in single combat.
Hiding a net beneath his shield he entangled Phrynon, killed him, and recovered the teritory."

And why is he contemplating a winged hourglass? Again in Diogenes we read:

              His maxim: "Know the right moment."
and further,

          to those who asked what he was grateful for he said, "Time".

Those 17th century artists were close readers of the writings of antiquity!