Chilon of Sparta or Chilo of Sparta was a Lacedaemonian, son of Damagetus. As an ephor he strengthened that position in Sparta. It is recorded that he composed verses in elegiac metre to the number of two hundred. Chilon was also the first person who introduced the custom of joining the ephors to the kings as their counselors, though Satyrus attributes this institution to Lycurgus.

He also brought greater strictness to Spartan training. He was one of the men drawn from among the outstanding politicians and political philosophers of ancient Greece. Although such listings differed widely, a usual one included Bias, Cleobulus, Periander, Pittacus, Solon, and Thales. The idea that there had once been seven extraordinary wise people was probably introduced in the west from Babylon, where the seven apkallû were believed to have lived before the great Flood.

The tradition was that he died of joy in the arms of his son, who had just gained a prize at the Olympic games. According to Chilon, the great virtue of man was prudence, or well-grounded judgment as to future events. It is recorded that he composed verses in elegiac metre to the number of two hundred.

-By Muse Alexandros

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