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Empedocles

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Philosopher

The Resume

    (circa 492 BC-circa 432 BC)
    Wrote the poem 'On Nature' which has not survived

Why he might be annoying:

    He claimed to be a god.
    His alleged miracles include: curing two towns of plagues (one by catching the winds, and the other by reversing the flow of two rivers), driving the madness out of a violent man by playing music, and reviving a woman who had been dead for 30 days.
    A critic of his referred to him as a 'collector of old wives' tales.'
    His religious teachings called for abstinence.
    He believed that everything was made out of earth, wind, fire, and air, and that they were combined through the powers of 'love' and 'strife.'
    His work was written in poetry.
    There are two stories surrounding his death, neither of which is likely true. The first states that he announced to his fellow guests at feast that he was about to ascend into heaven. When they turned away, he had vanished. The second story says that he attempted to prove that he was a God by jumping into the then active Mt. Etna, never to be seen again.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He supported democracy.
    He was such a well-respected politician that he was awarded a purple robe, a crown and servants.
    His grandfather, also named Empedocles won a chariot race in the Olympics.
    According to Aristotle, he invented rhetoric.

Credit: Nihilism Cynicism Sarcasm Orgasm


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 7 Votes: 85.71% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 14 Votes: 64.29% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 17 Votes: 52.94% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 16 Votes: 56.25% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 8 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 14 Votes: 64.29% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 18 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 23 Votes: 60.87% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 29 Votes: 65.52% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 66 Votes: 74.24% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 88 Votes: 63.64% Annoying
    In 2005, Out of 219 Votes: 62.56% Annoying
    In 2004, Out of 229 Votes: 53.71% Annoying
    In 2003, Out of 529 Votes: 59.17% Annoying
    In 2002, Out of 199 Votes: 65.83% Annoying