Anaxagoras (/ ˌ æ n æ k ˈ s æ ɡ ə r ə s /; Ancient Greek: Ἀναξαγόρας, Anaxagóras, "lord of the assembly"; c. 500 – c. 428 BC) was a Pre-Socratic Greek philosopher. Born in Clazomenae at a time when Asia Minor was under the control of the Persian Empire , Anaxagoras came to Athens .