bronze bust of Aristotle the ancient Greek polymath philosopher

Ancient Greek philosopher and polymath. 384-322 BCE. His writings covered a broad range of subjects, spanning the natural sciences, logic, philosophy, linguistics, economics, politics, rhetoric, psychology, and the arts.

At 18, he moved to Athens from his birthplace in northern Greece, and joined Plato's Academy in Athens, where he stayed until he was 37, when he was asked by Philip of Macedon to go and tutor his son, Alexander the Great. At 50, he returned to Athens and founded the Peripatetic School at the Lyceum. Aristotle's works filtered through into Roman philosophy and beyond. Even into aspects of Islamic philosophical tradition, and into Scholastic philosophy under, for example, Thomas Aquinas.

Aristotle’s most significant legacy is inventing the structured framework of Western thought. He created the first formal system of logic (syllogisms), laying the groundwork for the modern scientific method by insisting on observation and empirical data over abstract theory.

By categorizing human knowledge into distinct disciplines—like biology, ethics, politics, and physics—he shaped how universities organize learning today. His concept of Virtue Ethics, which defines happiness as a habit of moral excellence and moderation, remains a foundational pillar of philosophy. Ultimately, Aristotle taught us how systematically to observe, classify, and understand the world around us.

Aristotle’s Golden Mean theory suggests that happiness and moral virtue are found at the ideal midpoint between two extremes: deficiency and excess. To Aristotle, a virtue is not the opposite of a vice, but the perfect balance between two different vices.

He argued that finding this balance is not a rigid rule, but a practical habit tailored to each situation. By consistently choosing the middle path, we achieve eudaimonia—a state of lifelong human flourishing and true fulfillment.

(note from Elinor: the Lyceum was a temple in Athens dedicate to Apollo Lykaios. The remains of the Lyceum were discovered in 1996 and you can now go and visit the site. It's calm and peaceful, and beautifully landscaped. Some lovely olive trees there. And it's within easy walking distance of the Cycladic Museum!)

Hephaistos would be amazed by the craftsmanship and quality of this wonderful collection!

These superb bronze pieces are cast in Greece using the traditional lost wax method. As nothing is mass-produced, there will inevitably be slight variations in texture, patina, and colour. No two pieces are ever the same. If mounted, the base is of black marble.

Please note that there may be a variation of some millimetres in the dimensions of the base from time to time, and that accessories such as spears, tridents or javelins may vary in length or height! If you need precise dimensions and weight, email me!

If you need a piece to fit a very specific space, or if you want me to take a photo of a couple of pieces so you can pick the one you want, I will do so with pleasure.

Every piece is deliciously tactile.

It's All Greek is so grateful and so proud to have been working closely with the Semitekolo family foundry since 1999. It has been a privilege and a joy to handle, live with, to photograph and describe these gorgeous pieces, before passing them on to passionate and grateful customers all over the world.

If you already own one of these pieces, cherish it!