Greek philosopher, poet, and politician

A philosopher, poet, politician, and visionary, Empedocles of Acragas developed radical new ideas about the nature of the universe. His philosophy of the four elements in the universe and the definition of matter as the various ratios of these elements foreshadowed later developments in atomic theory by philosophers such as Democritus of Abdera (c. 460–c. 370 B.C.).

Empedocles was born in Acragas, Sicily. His father, Meto, was wealthy, and his grandfather, also named Empedocles, was renowned for winning a horse race in the Olympia. Empedocles is believed to have travelled to Thourioi shortly after it was established approximately 444 B.C. Empedocles's keen intellect enabled him to combine talents in philosophy, natural history, poetry, and politics, and to achieve superstar status in his day. According to the Greek...