Editing Parmenides (section)

====Archaeological discovery====
In 1969, the plinth of a statue dated to the 1st century AD was excavated in [[Velia]]. On the plinth were four words: ΠΑ[Ρ]ΜΕΝΕΙΔΗΣ ΠΥΡΗΤΟΣ ΟΥΛΙΑΔΗΣ ΦΥΣΙΚΟΣ.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://inscriptions.packhum.org/text/301222?bookid=742&location=8|title=IG XIV }}</ref> The first two clearly read  "Parmenides, son of Pires." The fourth word φυσικός (''fysikós'', "physicist") was commonly used to designate philosophers who devoted themselves to the observation of nature. On the other hand, there is no agreement on the meaning of the third (οὐλιάδης, ''ouliadēs''): it can simply mean "a native of Elea" (the name "Velia" is in Greek Οὐέλια),<ref>Marcel Conche, ''Parménide : Le Poème: Fragments'', Paris, Presses Universitaires de France, 1996, p. 5 and note.</ref> or "belonging to the Οὐλιος" (''Ulios''), that is, to a [[medical school]] (the patron of which was [[Apollo]] Ulius).<ref>P. Ebner, "Parmenide medico ''Ouliádes''", in: ''Giornale di Metafisica'' 21 (1966), pp. 103-114</ref> If this last hypothesis were true, then Parmenides would be, in addition to being a legislator, a doctor.<ref>''Poema'', intr. by Jorge Pérez de Tudela, p. 14</ref> The hypothesis is reinforced by the ideas contained in fragment 18 of his poem, which contains [[anatomy|anatomical]] and [[physiology|physiological]] observations.<ref>''Poema'', comment by Jorge Pérez de Tudela, p. 230 and note ad. loc.</ref> However, other specialists believe that the only certainty we can extract from the discovery is that of the social importance of Parmenides in the life of his city, already indicated by the testimonies that indicate his activity as a legislator.<ref>N. L. Cordero, ''Being one is'', p. 23.</ref>