Sydney Greek Philosophy Society

The Ibis

The Ibis is a richly symbolic bird in Greek philosophy; for many, it brings to mind first of all Theuth (Thoth) in the Phaedrus, inventor of writing: “he it was who invented numbers and arithmetic and geometry and astronomy, also draughts and dice, and, most important of all, letters” (274c–d, Fowler trans.). Visitors to Sydney are often struck by the fact that these resourceful birds have overrun the city, including many of our University campuses.

We are grateful to Wanyi (Wendy) Xin for creating our mascot, inspired by these ideas and the chalk art on the University of Sydney campus.

ἄριστον μὲν ὕδωρ (ariston men hudor)

“Water is best” – this is the first line of Pindar, Olympian 1. It was selected as the motto for a society dedicated to Greek philosophy in a harbor city. One might think of Thales – the early Greek physicist who thought everything was made of water; or, the question of “what is best” as Greek philosophy in a nutshell; or indeed the marshy lands the ibises delight in. The full first stanza of Olympian 1 is an electric highlight of Greek literature; even in translation, it shines:

Water is best, and gold, like a blazing fire in the night, stands out supreme of all lordly wealth. But if, my heart, you wish to sing of contests, look no further for any star warmer than the sun, shining by day through the lonely sky, and let us not proclaim any contest greater than Olympia. (Svarlien trans.)