Accounts Quote by Empedocles
“Various accounts of Empedocle's death are given in ancient sources. His enemies said that his desire to be thought a god led him to throw himself into the crater of Mount Etna so that he might vanish from the world completely and thus lead men to believe he had achieved apotheosis. Unfortunately the volcano defeated his design by throwing out one of the philosopher's sandals.”
About This Quote
Source Historical accounts; ancient biographies of Empedocles
The story claims Empedocles tried to die as a god by leaping into Etna, but the volcano thwarted him, leaving a sandal as proof of his humanity.
In simple terms: He attempted divine disappearance, but nature revealed his mortal remains.
Key Takeaway
Recognize that grand gestures can be undone by reality.
Themes
hubris
myth
mortality
nature
legacy
Mood
reflective
inquisitive
Type
historical
mythic
When to use this quote
- public speeches
- mythic narratives
- philosophical discussions
Key Concepts
Greek philosophy
apotheosis
fate
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the sandal symbolize about human ambition?
- How do myths shape our view of historical figures?
A Different Perspective
The anecdote may be apocryphal, lacking reliable evidence.
![“We haven't seen a real volcanic event at least in 74,000 years - [Mount Toba] in Indonesia, in Sumatra, where the crater itself is 100 kilometers across. It was so monumental, what happened, that for a very long time the entire atmosphere of our planet was darkened. It's not the lava and the heat…” quote by Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/826/werner-herzog-964_atmosphere_we-haven-t-seen-a-real-volcanic-event-at_685425.jpg)
![“[On the volcano.] And many a fire there burns beneath the ground.” quote by Empedocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bf9/empedocles-25636_fire_on-the-volcano-and-many-a-fire-there-bur_1101255.jpg)
