Name: Alexander the Great visits Diogenes in Corinth Memorial
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Korinthia

Alexander the Great visits Diogenes in Corinth Memorial

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Alexander the Great visits Diogenes in Corinth Memorial

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Location: Korinthia, Greece

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🕊️ 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒓

January 13, 2019

Diogenes was an unconventional ancient Greek philosopher noted for having mocked Alexander the Great, both in public and to his face when he visited Corinth in 336 BC, one of the most well-discussed anecdotes from philosophical history. Many versions of it exist. The most popular relate it as evidence of Diogenes' disregard for honor, wealth, and respect. According to legend, Alexander the Great came to visit the Greek philosopher Diogenes of Sinope. Alexander wanted to fulfill a wish for Diogenes and asked him what he desired. Diogenes replied "Stand out of my light." Alexander: "if I were not Alexander the Great, I would like to be Diogenes."

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diogenes_and_Alexander

Diogenes had been captured by pirates and sold into slavery, eventually settling in Corinth. There he passed his philosophy of Cynicism to Crates, who taught it to Zeno of Citium, who fashioned it into the school of Stoicism, one of the most enduring schools of Greek philosophy.

Diogenes made a virtue of poverty. He begged for a living and often slept in a large ceramic jar in the marketplace. He became notorious for his philosophical stunts, such as carrying a lamp during the day, claiming to be looking for an honest man. He criticized Plato, disputed his interpretation of Socrates, and sabotaged his lectures, sometimes distracting listeners by bringing food and eating during the discussions.

Diogenes was a controversial figure. His father minted coins for a living, and Diogenes was banished from Sinope when he took to debasement of currency. After being exiled, he moved to Athens and criticized many cultural conventions of the city. He modeled himself on the example of Heracles, and believed that virtue was better revealed in action than in theory. He used his simple life-style and behaviour to criticize the social values and institutions of what he saw as a corrupt, confused society. He had a reputation for sleeping and eating wherever he chose in a highly non-traditional fashion, and took to toughening himself against nature. He declared himself a cosmopolitan and a citizen of the world rather than claiming allegiance to just one place. There are many tales about his dogging Antisthenes' footsteps and becoming his "faithful hound". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diogenes

JakobusPilger

August 9, 2025

One could also describe it as a meeting of pen and sword: On one side (on the left, as viewed from the viewer facing the sea) sits Diogenes of Sinope, one of the numerous philosophers of ancient Greece. Opposite him stands the great general and conqueror Alexander, honored early on with the nickname "the Great." Although the encounter between these two very dissimilar men is recorded in various textual sources, it is not proven in a historical or scientific sense, as various anecdotes about Diogenes's life were only later invented.

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Location: Korinthia, Greece

Alexander the Great visits Diogenes in Corinth Memorial

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