DIOGENES - BACKGROUND

<BODY> <CENTER><FONT SIZE=5><B><FONT SIZE=6>DIOGENES</FONT><BR> THE CYNIC</B></FONT></CENTER><P> <FONT SIZE=4><B>Background</B></FONT><P> <BLOCKQUOTE>"A homeless exile, to his country dead, A wanderer who begs his daily bread."<P> (Diogenes Laertes VI.38)</BLOCKQUOTE> Diogenes came to Athens, having been exiled for fraudulently debasing the currency of his home city, Sinope. He lived in the public places in the city, eventually taking up residence in a barrel. Thereby he became an example of triumph over adversity. He turned this life of poverty and self deprivation into a public exemplar of how a life of virtue should be led. Thus was born Cynicism.<P> The term Cynicism derives from his nick-name, which in Greek meant Dog, a term of derision meant to draw attention to his shameless behaviour and his living like an animal. Diogenes responded by embracing the title. He is said to have displayed his contempt for his critics by lifting his leg and drenching them - in dog-like fashion. He took to using the name in his repartee. He said of himself : "I fawn on those who give me anything, I yelp at those who refuse, and I set my teeth in rascals." By the end of his long life, the "dog" would be celebrated in verse as "true born son of Zeus and hound of heaven." <BR clear=left><BR> <HR width=100%> <A HREF="http://www.creatorix.com.au"><IMG SRC="../creatorix.gif" WIDTH="85" HEIGHT="40" BORDER="0" ALT="Creatorix" align=right></A> </BODY>