Surak

Surak was a legendary Vulcan philosopher, scientist, and logician, considered the greatest of all who ever lived on Vulcan and the father of the modern Vulcan civilization. Surak lived in the 4th century, during the Time of Awakening. As a scientist, he was considered on the same level as Humans Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton.

Surak told stories of the philosophy "Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations." He stated that the this idea "had no end," and that its name was only a shadow of its true meaning. He was also an active mind melder. During what Vulcans call the "Time of Awakening," Vulcan suffered from a series of devastating wars, which nearly destroyed the planet.

Surak helped end the destructive wars on Vulcan and taught his followers to learn to embrace logic and control their emotions. This era became known as the "Time of Awakening" and saw Vulcans transform from violent savages and transcend into logical, ordered beings. In the early stages of what was to be another devastating war, Surak's followers sent emissaries to propose peace. Many of these emissaries were killed, but over time they achieved peace on their planet.

Surak was killed in the last battle against "those who marched beneath the raptor's wings." He died on Mount Seleya from radiation sickness caused by atomic weapons.

Just prior to his death, Surak's katra (or "spirit") was taken and housed in a "katric ark."
This ark was discovered in 2137 by a Vulcan who later went on to form the "Syrrannite" movement, a group of people who believed the Vulcan people had strayed too far from Surak's peaceful teachings.

His logic was said to have cooled the "Plain of Blood", located in "Vulcan's Forge," from the heat of battle. It was in this place that he founded the T'Karath Sanctuary.