°ⵓⵔⴰ°° C y n i c ʂ

C r a t e s (oʄ Thebes) a n d H i p p a r c h i a (oʄ Maroneia)

The name Cynic derives from Ancient Greek κυνικός (kynikos), meaning "dog-like", and κύων (kyôn), meaning "dog" (genitive: kynos). One explanation offered in ancient times for why the Cynics were called dogs was because the first Cynic, Antisthenes, taught in the Cynosarges gymnasium at Athens. The word Cynosarges means the place of the white dog. It seems certain, however, that the word dog was also thrown at the first Cynics as an insult for their shameless rejection of conventional manners.

Antisthenes was followed by Diogenes of Sinope. Diogenes was followed by Crates of Thebes who gave away a large fortune so he could live a life of Cynic poverty on the streets of Athens. He married Hipparchia of Maroneia who lived in the same manner that he did. Respected by the people of Athens, he is remembered for being the teacher of Zeno of Citium, the founder of Stoicism.

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D i o g e n e s (oʄ Sinope) & (H i p p a r c h u s (oʄ Nicaea))

Hermit Crab: superfamily Paguroidæ, family Diogenidæ, left-handed hermit crab. genus Diogenes Dana 1851.

Zebra Swallowtail: Protographium marcellus syn. Eurytides marcellus syn. Papilio ajax Linnaeus