Heraclitus, who was born in Ephesus in the 6th century BC, was one of the first philosophers who sought to understand the essence of the universe, impacting not only his own era but the entirety of human history. He was nicknamed the "dark and weeping philosopher" throughout the Aegean world. This thinker, who advocated that the universe is in a constant flow, a game of opposites, spoke with a wisdom beyond his time.

Centuries later, Heraclitus would be recognized as a founder of modern philosophy, and the famous German philosopher Nietzsche would say these words about him:

“The world always needs the truth, therefore, it always needs Heraclitus.”

The ideas born on this land shaped not only the ancient world but also modern thought. The streets Heraclitus once walked on in Ephesus still carry the traces of thinkers and curious souls chasing after questions today.

In Raphael’s famous fresco "The School of Athens," Heraclitus is depicted alone, leaning his elbows on a marble block, appearing thoughtful and melancholic. His eyes are cast downward; his brows furrowed, and his lips seem to bear the weight of a heavy inner world. He engages in no dialogue with other figures; the image of the dark thinker materializes in this solitary stance. It is believed that Raphael modeled this figure after Michelangelo—thus emphasizing Heraclitus’s intellectual and physical depth with artistic gravity.

Heraclitus, who was born in Ephesus in the 6th century BC, was one of the first philosophers who sought to understand the essence of the universe, impacting not only his own era but the entirety of human history. He was nicknamed the "dark and weeping philosopher" throughout the Aegean world. This thinker, who advocated that the universe is in a constant flow, a game of opposites, spoke with a wisdom beyond his time.

Centuries later, Heraclitus would be recognized as a founder of modern philosophy, and the famous German philosopher Nietzsche would say these words about him:

“The world always needs the truth, therefore, it always needs Heraclitus.”

The ideas born on this land shaped not only the ancient world but also modern thought. The streets Heraclitus once walked on in Ephesus still carry the traces of thinkers and curious souls chasing after questions today.

In Raphael’s famous fresco "The School of Athens," Heraclitus is depicted alone, leaning his elbows on a marble block, appearing thoughtful and melancholic. His eyes are cast downward; his brows furrowed, and his lips seem to bear the weight of a heavy inner world. He engages in no dialogue with other figures; the image of the dark thinker materializes in this solitary stance. It is believed that Raphael modeled this figure after Michelangelo—thus emphasizing Heraclitus’s intellectual and physical depth with artistic gravity.