Theophrastus at The Palace of Versailles, France

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Theophrastus, a Greek native of Eresos in Lesbos, succeeded Aristotle as the leader of the Peripatetic school. Born around 371 BC, he came to Athens at a young age and initially studied under Plato's guidance. Following Plato's passing, Theophrastus attached himself to Aristotle, who bequeathed his writings to him and named him as his successor at the Lyceum. For thirty-six years, Theophrastus presided over the Peripatetic school, during which time it flourished greatly. He is often referred to as the "father of botany" due to his significant contributions to plant science. After his death, the Athenians honored him with a public funeral, and Strato of Lampsacus succeeded him as the head of the school. Theophrastus's interests were diverse, encompassing biology, physics, ethics, and metaphysics. His two surviving botanical works, "Enquiry into Plants" and "On the Causes of Plants," had a profound impact on Renaissance science. Additionally, his works "On Moral Characters," "On Sensation," and "On Stones" demonstrate his expertise in various fields. Theophrastus also made significant contributions to philosophy, studying grammar and language while continuing Aristotle's work on logic. He viewed space as the arrangement of bodies and time as an accident of motion, regarding motion as a necessary consequence of all activity. In ethics, he believed that happiness depends on external influences as well as virtue, famously stating that "life is ruled by fortune, not wisdom." This object is part of "Scan The World," a non-profit initiative launched by MyMiniFactory to create a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from around the globe for public access. Scan the World is an open-source community effort, inviting individuals with interesting items to contribute by emailing stw@myminifactory.com to learn how they can participate.