Empedocles (c. 492-432 B.C.) was one of the great intellects of the Ancient World. He was multi-talented and was a philosopher, doctor, and poet. His greatest achievement was development of the “theory of the four elements” – earth, wind, fire, and water. A strong believer in democracy, he helped overthrow the oligarchy that was misruling his city on Sicily. As a doctor, he was famous for curing diseases and averting epidemics. He was an egotist who claimed to be able to alleviate old age, destroy evil, and control the climate. After a case where he cured a woman who was deemed uncurable, he began telling people he was a god. When people evidenced skepticism, he gathered a crowd at the volcano Mount Etna. He vowed to descend the volcano and return. He hasn’t yet.
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