File:Teofrasto_Orto_botanico_detail.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
Theophrastus
Sign in to saveAlso known as Theophr., Theophrastus of Eresos
Theophrastus (; ; c. 371 – c. 287 BC) was an ancient Greek philosopher and naturalist. A native of Eresos in Lesbos, he was Aristotle's close colleague and successor as head of the Lyceum, the Peripatetic school of philosophy in Athens. Theophrastus wrote numerous treatises across all areas of philosophy, working to support, improve, expand, and develop the Aristotelian system. He made significant contributions to various fields, including ethics, metaphysics, botany, and natural history. Often considered the "father of botany" for his groundbreaking works "Enquiry into Plants" () and "On the
OverviewAI-generated
Theophrastus (371 BCE–287 BCE) was a male Greek botanist, physicist, philosopher, and writer. Born in Eresos and a citizen of Classical Athens, he died in Athens. He was a student of Aristotle and Plato and was educated at the peripatetic school, with which he was also associated. His native name was Θεόφραστος Ἐρέσιος, and he wrote in Ancient Greek.
His notable works include *History of Plants*, *On the causes of plants*, and *Characters*. He is recognized for his work in the field of botany during the Hellenistic period. His students included Strato of Lampsacus, Bion of Borysthenes, Chamaeleon, and Neleus of Scepsis. He is described in sources such as the *Nordisk familjebok*, *Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary*, *The Nuttall Encyclopædia*, and the *Encyclopædia Britannica 11th edition*.
Synthesized by Vinony from 27 facts across 3 sources: Wikidata, Open Library, Europeana Sparql. Generated from structured data (not the Wikipedia text) and checked against those facts — may still contain errors.
Person · Open Library
- Born
- 370 BCE
- Died
- 286
- Works
- 156
Top works
- Theophrastou Charactēres
- De historia plantarum lib. ix et decimi principium duntaxat
- De causis plantarum lib. vi
- I caratteri morali
- Theophrasti De historia, et causis plantaru[m], libri quindecim
via Open Library + Wikidata
Key facts
- Philosopher.region
- Western philosophy
- Philosopher.era
- Ancient philosophy
- Philosopher.image
- Teofrasto Orto botanico detail.jpg
- Philosopher.alt
- A statue of Theophrastus wearing a robe and unfurling a scroll
- Philosopher.caption
- Statue of Theophrastus, Palermo Botanical Garden
- Philosopher.name
- Theophrastus
- Philosopher.birth_place
- Eresos
- Philosopher.death_date
- (aged 83 or 84)
- Philosopher.death_place
- Athens
- Philosopher.school_tradition
- Peripatetic school
- Philosopher.main_interests
- Ethics, grammar, history, logic, metaphysics, natural history, physics, botany
via Wikipedia infobox
Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- human
- Gender
- male
- Citizenship
- Classical Athens
- Place of birth
- Eresos
- Place of death
- Athens
- Occupation
- writer
- Educated at
- peripatetic school
- Languages spoken
- Ancient Greek
- Student of
- Plato
- Field of work
- botany
- Movement
- peripatetic school
- Image
- Teofrasto Orto botanico head.jpg
Show 13 more facts
- topic's main category
- Category:Theophrastus
- Commons category
- Theophrastus
- date of birth
- 0371-00-00
- date of death
- 0287-00-00
- described by source
- Pauly–Wissowa
- time period
- Hellenistic period
- ethnic group
- Greeks
- name in native language
- Θεόφραστος Ἐρέσιος
- writing language
- Ancient Greek
- Commons Creator page
- Theophrastus
- P12749
- Norbert Trelle
- P13311
- Roncoferraro
- significant place
- Eresos
Sources (3)
via Wikidata · CC0
Works in European collections
36 objects attributed to Theophrastus, held across European museums, libraries & archives · via Europeana
The Caracters of Theophrast and de la Bruyere
Theophrasti Eresii Opera que supersunt omnia ex Thetione Friderici Wimmer. Tomus primus Historiam plantarum
Iulii Caesaris Scaligeri Animadversiones in Historias Theophrasti
Theophraste of the Odeurs, made of Greek in the nostre of the French-speaking language, with annotations of more notable and difficult places with the history of a few plants. By J. de L' Estrade,
Theophrasti Characteres
Theophrasti Eresii from Historia plantarum libri decem graece and Latin. In quibus textum graecum..., latinam Gazae versionem... rariorum plantarum iconibus illustravit Joannes Bodaeus a Stapel,... Accesserunt Julii Caesaris Scaligeri in eosdem libros animadversiones, and Roberti Constantini annotationes...
Iulii Caesaris Scaligeri viri clariss. Commentarii, and animadversiones, in sex libros de causis plantarum Theophrasti
Theophrasti Eresii, peripateticorum post Aristotelem principis, Pleraque: antehac Latine nunquam, nunc Graece & Latine simul edita. Interpretibus, Daniele Furlano Cretensi, Adriano Turnebo. Accesserunt, Liber de innato Acc, Aristoteli attributus, & Danielis Furlani Uberes ad omnia Commentarii: Ex Libreca Ioan. Vincentii Pinelli
Theophrastus De historia plantarum Theod. Gaza interprete
Theophrasti De caussis plantarum
Theophrasti Characteres
Theophrasti De historia et caussis plantarum
Theofrastoy ēthikoi charaktēres = Theophrasti notationes morum
Caratteri di Teofrasto [Texto impreso]
Characters [Printed Text]
I Trenta Caratteri Di Teofrasto Volgarizzati Da Tullio Dandolo
Suite des caracteres de Theophraste et des pensees de Pascal
Theophrasts Kennzeichen der Sitten ; Nebst des Herrn Johann de la Bruyere Mitglieds der französischen Akademie Moralischen Abschilderungen dieser Zeit
De historia plantarum libri IX et Decimi principium, de causis, sive generatione plantarum libri VI. Theodoro Gaza interpreted.
De historia plantarum libri IX et decimi principium duntaxat; Ejusdem de causis plantarum libri VI, Theodoro Gaza interprete.
History of stones. With an english version and ... notes, including the modern history of the gems etc. by John Hill. (etc.)
Theophrasti Eresii De historia plantarum :libri decem ; Graece et Latine
Theophrasti Characteres
Theophrest’s hallmark of customs: Next to Johann de la Bruyere Member of the French Academy of Moral Dependencies of the customs of that time
Theophrastu Charaktēres ēthikoi :graece & latine = Theophrasti Characteres ethici
Theophrasti Eresii Opera quae supersunt omnia. 1, Historiam plantarum continens
Theophrasti Characteres :Marci Antonini commentarii, Epicteti dissertationes ab Arriano literis mandatae, fragmenta et enchiridion cum commentario Simplicii, Cebetis tabula, Maximi Tyrii dissertationes Graece et Latine cum indicibus ; Theophrasti characteres XV et Maximum Tyrium
Theophrasti Notationes Morvm = Theophrastu ēthikoi Charaktēres
Theophrasti Characters ethici sive descriptiones morum: Graece
Theophrasti Eresii Opera, quae supersunt, omnia
Theophrast 's Characters
Theophrasti Characteres
Theophrastu Eresiu ta sōzomena. 5, Supplementum et indicem rerum et verborum continens
Theophrasti Eresii Opera quae supersunt omnia. 1, Historia plantarum
Theophrest’s hallmark of customs: Next to Johann de la Bruyere, members of the French Academy of Moral Decorations of the customs of that time. 2
Theophrastu Ēthikoi charaktēres = Theophrasti Notationes morum
~31 min read
Encyclopedic overview
23 sectionsContents
- Life
- Writings
- On plants
- On moral characters
- On sensation
- Physics
- Metaphysics
- On stones
- Publication History
- Philosophy
- Logic
- Physics and metaphysics
- Ethics
- The "portrait" of Theophrastus
- In popular culture
- Works
- Modern editions
- Brill
- Explanatory notes
- Citations
- General and cited references
- Further reading
- External links
Theophrastus (; ; c. 371 – c. 287 BC) was an ancient Greek philosopher and naturalist. A native of Eresos in Lesbos, he was Aristotle's close colleague and successor as head of the Lyceum, the Peripatetic school of philosophy in Athens. Theophrastus wrote numerous treatises across all areas of philosophy, working to support, improve, expand, and develop the Aristotelian system. He made significant contributions to various fields, including ethics, metaphysics, botany, and natural history. Often considered the "father of botany" for his groundbreaking works "Enquiry into Plants" () and "On the Causes of Plants", () Theophrastus established the foundations of botanical science. His given name was (Ancient Greek: ); the nickname Theophrastus ("divine speaker") was reputedly given to him by Aristotle in recognition of his eloquent style.
He came to Athens at a young age and initially studied in Plato's school. After Plato's death, he attached himself to Aristotle who took to Theophrastus in his writings. When Aristotle fled Athens, Theophrastus took over as head of the Lyceum. Theophrastus presided over the Peripatetic school for thirty-six years, during which time the school flourished greatly. He is often considered the father of botany for his works on plants. After his death, the Athenians honoured him with a public funeral. His successor as head of the school was Strato of Lampsacus.
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Theophrastus” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.
Gallery (22)
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