Heraclitus of Ephesus is one of the most interesting figures in the history of ancient Greek culture. His strong character and individuality has clear expression in his style and deep meaning. His writing is something prophetic and mystical, it is rich in images, grand and very bold in comparison, because this great spirit thinks not in abstractions, but in practical insights and plastic images.
Heraclitus lived and thought in the late sixth century and early fifth century BC It is the age in which develops the strong individuality of ancient Greek culture, dating to the Persian wars, in which the genius of Temistocle becomes the savior of hellenism.
His work, titled “On Nature”, was developed by the great efesan middle age. It is lost, but we have still kept some 130 fragments, preserved as quotations, more or less authentic, followers in the works, which often refers to the ideas of Heraclitus. In Diels’ view, Heraclitus’s work was not systematic, but rather a kind of diary, which, for this reason, it was hard to understand, which earned Heraclitus the epithet of “dark” or “obscure.” However, in this diary are true pearls of thought exposed.
