Solon, Tellus and Thugs

I've been reading two topics, one about the Thugs and one about the Greeks. Fascinating, both of them, because both create intact, consistent self contained worlds that are coherent and yet completely at odds with each other. The Greeks, of course, are more interesting as they have a direct line to us. Solon , the famous "Lawgiver of Athens," was a respected wise man. Herodotus has a story about him that is often quoted and says a lot about him and the Greeks. Solon met Croesus, the Persian, the richest man in the world . After showing Solon some of his riches he asked him "Who is the happiest man in the world?" (expecting "You, O Magnificent One!) Solon answered, "Tellus of Athens," someone no one had ever heard of. Why? Because his Polis (town) was flourishing, he had good children, and he died in a righteous cause (the defense of the Polis).The Greeks were more than just successful; they were wise. They made a real effort to understand themselves and their world. And this effort was a struggle; they did not always agree. Sometimes they came to no conclusion. But they did know that happiness depended on several basic things: the composure of the state, the integrity of one's children, the code of your life. Remember, these people had a very distant relationship with their gods. They had no belief in an afterlife. Their lives were stripped down to the basics. Whether one believes them or not, they must be taken seriously as every individual searches for his own answers.