Even today, the meeting between the conqueror and the philosopher serves as a reminder of the enduring appeal of unconventional wisdom and the importance of living an honest and authentic life. Their brief meeting was captured in a famous bas-relief sculpture by Pierre Puget from ca. The reason for the name Cynics is uncertain, but it likely comes from the location of the philosophic school in the Cynosarges area of Athens.ĭespite their vastly different outlooks on life, Alexander and Diogenes died on the same day in 323 BCE. Leaving, he remarked, “If I were not Alexander, I would want to be Diogenes.” Alexander’s attendants were incensed by Diogenes’ behavior, but the king himself seemed to appreciate the philosopher’s unconventional outlook on life.ĭiogenes’ influence on ancient philosophy was enormous, and he was the founder of the Cynics, a school of thought that rejected wealth, pleasure, and social conventions in favor of a simple and honest life. Diogenes, who was enjoying the warmth of the autumn sun, replied, “Stand aside to stop blocking the sun.” This abrupt response, which showed his utter disregard for the power and prestige that Alexander craved, spawned the large number of artistic renderings that followed.ĭespite Diogenes’ rudeness to Alexander, the young king was not displeased. He had a reputation for urinating, defecating, and masturbating in public to show his contempt for society’s conventions.ĭifferent versions of the story of their meeting are found in various ancient sources, but most agree that Alexander approached Diogenes and offered to do anything for him. The philosopher, on the other hand, lived in a barrel, rejected all the norms of civilized behavior, and was usually portrayed as unkempt and nearly naked. The meeting is notable not only for the stark contrast between the two figures but also for the memorable exchange that took place between them.Īlexander, who had already conquered Greece and was on his way to world domination, was dressed in regal attire and accompanied by attendants when he visited Corinth, where Diogenes lived in his later years. Wikimedia Commons alone contains more than fifty artistic renderings of this apocryphal encounter between the young Macedonian king and the aging philosopher. In the history of European art, few moments from classical antiquity have been depicted as frequently as the meeting of Alexander the Great and Diogenes the Cynic.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |