The project of the Path of the Wise was born during a session of the Council of Elders, made up of 9 women and 9 men aged 60 and over, chosen for their wise experience by the Municipal Councillors. On that day, the subject of reflection was the question of how to bring our republican motto “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity” to life?
The birth of the Path of the Sages
The idea germinated that sprinkle the city with sentences emanating from famous women and men, globally recognized for their wisdom and their humanism, could challenge the awareness of passers-by Borméens as tourists. In order to justify this bold and innovative project in the eyes of the Mayor and his Municipal Council, the decision is taken to combine this route with historical plaques which were to be installed on the city's emblematic monuments. The members of the Council of Elders then determined the route of this path within the medieval village and worked on the support, texts, images and symbols of these plates.
Le butterfly symbol is chosen because it represents joy, beauty, grace and lightness of being. It refers to the power of personal transformation by its strong power of rebirth. Indeed, before being a butterfly, this insect is first an egg, then it becomes a caterpillar before being a chrysalis and finally a butterfly. Each new step symbolizes a change in life, the let go on what you were to appreciate what you have become. As a symbol of wisdom, This animal is a source of inspiration in life. Under his fragile appearances,
The butterfly has a great strength. Indeed, his life is fleeting (life span of a few days to a few weeks) and yet, it spreads joy and good humor by the grace and beauty of its flight, enjoying every moment that nature offers it. So why not do like the butterfly, to approach with confidence everything that life offers us, good or bad experience, because after all it only lasts a moment. These These experiences are not the past the better preparation for the future allowing us to move forward more serenely on the paths of life?
Aristotle's biography
Ancient Greek philosopher and founder of the Lyceum.
Greek philosopher Born in 384 BC in Stagira (now Stavros), on the shores of the Aegean Sea, Aristotle is one of the four children of Nicomachus, a famous physician, and Phaetis, from a large family of Chalcis. Orphaned at the age of 10 or 12, Aristotle continues his studies and is interested in many disciplines, which requires him to leave for Athens, where he studied for many years with Plato.
Brilliant student, he is fast noticed by the master in person who nicknamed the “reader” or sometimes “intelligence”. Aristotle begins the writing numerous texts such as dialogues on justice, on education, on friendship. He also undertakes important scientific works which will lead to the writing of treatises and courses. Over the years, Aristotle detaches itself little by little teachings of plato and sometimes criticizes his master openly.
The accession of Alexander to the throne of Macedonia and the return of peace between Athens and Pella encourages Aristotle to return to the city he left thirteen years earlier. There found a school , here will compete with the Academy: “the High School”. Aristotle is in the habit of teach lessons while walking in the alleys of the gymnasium gardens and his students take the name of peripatetics, “the walkers”. Among disciplines taught, we find the rhetoric, knowledge and management of public affairs, philosophy, natural history or even physics. Personalized recherches are undertaken in medicine, mathematics, music, botany, cosmology, etc. Aristotle continues his work in biology and develops an effective research method
and rigorous. He advocates the systematic observation of facts before any reflection. He also practices dissections. The numerous researches carried out at the Lycée bring a considerable amount of discoveries and the school library is particularly well supplied. He works on the meaning of being as a being and establishes the foundations of theology in “Metaphysics”, which will remain a reference work for medieval Jewish, Christian and Muslim thought. The philosopher will not neglect politics and morality, where, developing a finalist conception of the essence of the city, he will pronounce himself in favor of the search for a supreme good leading to virtue: Happiness.
But the death of alexander will soon put end to this period of intensive work. His disappearance exacerbates anti-Macedonian feelings and pushes the Athenians to revolt. Aristotle, who did not approve of the actions of his former student, is forced to leave Athens with his family in 323 BC. He took refuge in Chalcis, in his mother's house. Ill, he felt his end was near. He then wrote his will which made Theophrastus his successor as head of the Lyceum. He died in 322 BC, at the age of sixty-two, leaving unfinished some treatises such as “The Generation of Animals”.
The Cubert of Place Chapon
La small place Chapon, formerly called “small fountain square”, was built on the site of an old oil mill belonging to the Pouverin ladies. Due to a dry and difficult summer, the municipality decided in January 1757 to build a fountain which would be powered by the source called “Gioffré spring”. A trusted man was appointed in 1761 as “water dispenser” to ensure a fair distribution of the precious liquid in each district of the village.
The fountain, supplied by a small local aqueduct, played a central role in the daily lives of the neighborhood's residents and was essential to their work and daily life. The apartments surrounding the square were occupied by families until the 1970s and Place Chapon was animated by the cries of children enjoying the shade of a large magnolia tree.
The square also houses a small alley dedicated to cats called “the career of the cats”. From the small fountain, the view of the plain and the islands is magnified by the bougainvillea blooming. An interesting anecdote about the square concerns a small cannon, called stone quarry, who is planted at the bottom of a small house. This cannon was used to fire stone balls and was often mounted on a bracket on boats for close-quarters combat. However, the owner of the house found a new use for the cannon by placing it there for protect the corner of your wall damage caused by iron-rimmed cart wheels.
Also find the Path of the Sages on Baludik!
To discover the fun and geolocated route, scan this QR code. Games and surprises await you with the Baludik application.