Anachar'sis

Anachar'sis, a Scythian prince who travelled widely in quest of knowledge, and visited Athens in the time of Solon. He was received with great respect for his remarkable wisdom, and was admitted to the Athenian franchise. The letters which bear his name were written long after his time. It is said that, after his return to his native land, he was put to death by order of the king, who feared the introduction of the Greek mysteries, in which it was supposed that Anacharsis had been initiated. J. J. Barthélemy (q.v.) borrowed his name for that of the hero of his Voyage du Jeune Anacharsis en Grèce (1788).