The origin of the phrase “know thyself” from the temple of Apollo

«Know yourself». These were the words that were inscribed almost as a warning on the pronaos of the temple of Apollo at Delphi. It was Plato who gave greater dissemination to this phrase of high ethical and reflective value through his dialogues. Thus he remembered the importance of looking within before making any decision, before taking any step.

Knowing yourself should be a constant task in life. Only through this knowledge is it possible to understand one’s own essence and learn to manage one’s existence, passions and emotions. This article analyzes that wise recommendation that was read by the ancients in the famous temple of Apollo. Here we go!

Self-knowledge is a responsibility

Centuries have passed and A large part of people still have difficulties in that basic subject that is self-knowledge.. That society survives that acts without reflecting, that blames others for its failures and that avoids confronting honesty.

For example, self-protective and rationalizing biases abound. When you fail, excuses appear. It is always easier to blame others for your own mistakes and resort to the situational factor: “things are very difficult, it’s that with this crisis there is no way out”.

Self-knowledge is the essence of human maturity. It is the greatest responsibility, the task to which time, intuition and effort should be dedicated. What’s more, you don’t need a trip to India or doing the Camino de Santiago to have more inner light. People reveal themselves on a daily basis; Self-knowledge is an everyday task.

As Thomas Hobbes said in his Leviathan, “whoever looks inside himself and considers what he does when he thinks, opines, reasons, and on what basis, will read and know the thoughts and passions of all men on similar occasions.” That is, knowing who you are will not only help you know yourself. This competition also opens the door for knowledge of others.

Know thyself, the message of the gods

It is not simple advice, nor a recommendation, nor a suggestion. The words inscribed at the entrance to the temple of Apollo at Delphi were almost an exhortation and even a warning that went beyond mere ethical or religious value.. Pausanias, the famous tourist of the second century of Christ, in book X of his work Description of Greece, He explained that this phrase was inscribed in gold as soon as he entered the temple.

Now, in the room where the sibyl was, that wise woman trained since she was a child to reveal the message of the oracles, the following inscription could be read.

The Oracle of Delphi, a place of pilgrimage

Delphi was that location where, for several centuries, people such as Philip II, king of Macedonia, visited; Pyrrhus, king of Epirus; Cicero, Julian, among others. At 700 meters above sea level and 9.5 km away from the Gulf of Corinth, it was a place of great power. There stood the famous Oracle of Apollo, where any mortal could receive a message from the gods to know their destiny.

The recorded works of Aeschylus, Cicero, Pliny, Plato, Pausanias and Plutarch give veracity to this scenario of which, today, only some evocative ruins remain at the foot of some mountains. It is said, for example, that There were fountains, laurel forests, and the fortune tellers or priestesses of the temple interpreted the messages offered by the gods..

The temple was erected on a stage known as Pito. In that place resided a large snake or dragon that, according to mythology, watched over the primitive oracle until Apollo killed said creature and took over the sanctuary. The oracle of Delphi reached its maximum splendor in the 7th century BC. C and lost its relevance with the Roman occupation in the 1st century BC. c.

Before asking a question, know yourself

That the words “Know thyself” were at the entrance to the temple of Apollo was no coincidence. Plinio explained that they were inscribed in gold and that it was impossible to cross the threshold without noticing them, without letting their letters remain imprinted on the eyes and on the mind. That was the purpose: an exhortation to reflect, to be aware of something very specific.

He who wanted the Oracle of Delphi to speak to him had to first delve into himself. From the knowledge of one’s own, the most accurate questions are born.No question will make sense if the most important question is not answered first: “Who am I?”»At the same time, only those who are wise when it comes to understanding themselves in depth will know how to make better use of what the oracle reveals to them.

To grow as a person, know yourself

In a text by Plato called First Alcibiades, Socrates uses the phrase to speak to Alcibiades, who wanted to become a politician, despite his lack of knowledge. The philosopher tells him that Before leading others, you need to govern your own lifeand to do so you need to know yourself.

And it is that self-knowledge allows you to manage passions, as well as work on strengths and weaknesses. Actions that, without a doubt, make us grow as people. Furthermore, only he who knows himself can govern and direct his life in accordance with his values.

The arduous task of knowing yourself

In general, human beings are clear that few messages are more important than the one left by the temple of Apollo in its pronaos.. «Know yourself» is that motto that abounds in any self-help book, philosophy manual or story from Instagram. Everyone has heard it at some point and tries to apply it daily.

Now, as noted at the beginning, this vital competence is not acquired overnight. No great feats are necessary. The adventure of knowing yourself lasts a lifetime. And this is so for a very simple fact: People change, mature, improve, advance.

Just like he said André Gide, in Autumn Leaves (1950) : «A caterpillar that seeks to know itself will never become a butterfly.». It is not, therefore, about searching for oneself, but about finding oneself on a daily basis while being clear about the needs, dreams, potentials and aspects to improve..

The first step of personal development is knowing who you are

Knowing yourself allows you to grow as a person and govern your life according to values, beliefs and interests. This knowledge It is the essence of human maturity and personal development.

The phrase «Know yourself» inscribed in the temple of Apollo in Delphi, it was not a coincidence, but rather an invitation to reflection that is still valid today. We encourage you to think about it and your existence so that, little by little, you discover who you are.

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