γυμνοσοφισταί
θοῦ, Κύριε, φυλακὴν τῷ στόµατί µου καὶ θύραν περιοχῆς περὶ τὰ χείλη µου → set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips | set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips (Psalm 140:3, Septuagint version)
English (LSJ)
ῶν, οἱ, gymnosophists, naked philosophers of India, Arist.Fr.35, Str.16.2.39, Ph.2.27, Plu.Alex.64, Luc.Fug.7, Porph.Abst.4.17:— hence γυμνοσοφιστεία, ἡ, gymnosophism, gymnosophy, their philosophy, Suid.s.v. Ἀδάμ.
German (Pape)
[Seite 510] οἱ, Gymnosophisten, nackt lebende Indische Weise, Plut. Alex. 64; Luc. Fugit. 7 u. a. Sp.
Spanish (DGE)
-ῶν, οἱ
fil. gimnosofistas o filósofos desnudos ref. los Brahmanes de la India, Arist.Fr.35, Str.16.2.39, Ph.2.27, Plu.Alex.64, Lyc.4, Luc.Fug.7, Ps.Callisth.104.14, 124.12. Porph.Abst.4.17, Plin.HN 7.22
•en Egipto, Hieron.Ep.107.8
•en Etiopía, Hieron.Ep.53.1
•en Babilonia, Zonar.p.457.
Russian (Dvoretsky)
γυμνοσοφισταί: οἱ гимнософисты (название, данное греками индийским философам-аскетам) Arst., Plut., Luc.
Dutch (Woordenboekgrieks.nl)
γυμνοσοφισταί -ῶν, οἱ [γυμνός, σοφιστής] post-klass. gymnosofisten (filosofen in India die naakt leefden).
Wikipedia EN
Gymnosophists (Ancient Greek: γυμνοσοφισταί, gymnosophistaí, i.e. "naked philosophers" or "naked wise men") is the name given by the Greeks to certain ancient Indian philosophers who pursued asceticism to the point of regarding food and clothing as detrimental to purity of thought. They were noted to have been vegetarian by several Greek authors. The above description very well matches with Jain Digambara Saints who practice extreme penance in terms of fasting and don't eat root vegetables, vegetables with many seeds etc. There were also gymnosophists in upper Egypt who were called Ethiopean Gymnosophists by Apollonius of Tyana.
In Greek literature, they are mentioned in association with the Persian magi, the Chaldaeans of the Assyrians or the Babylonians, the druids of the Celts, and the priests of Egypt, etc. Some sources claim that famous figures such as Lycurgus, Pythagoras, and Democritus may have met them. They are mentioned by authors such as Philo, Lucian, Clement of Alexandria, Philostratus, and Heliodorus of Emesa. These reports are thought to have served as models to Cynics as well as Christian ascetics. Many authors have discussed the purported questions by Alexander the Great and answers by the Gymnosophists.
Translations
az: himnosofistlər; de: Gymnosophist; en: gymnosophists; es: gimnosofistas; fi: gymnosofistit; fr: gymnosophiste; it: gimnosofisti; nl: gymnosofist; pl: gymnosofiści; pt: gimnosofistas; ru: гимнософисты; sv: gymnosofi; uk: гімнософісти
