Study of Diogenes Laertius’ Lives of the Eminent Philosophers gives us tantalizing snippets of information about women of whom we might never have heard. He tells us of nameless women, wives, daughters and courtesans. Many mentions of women are very brief. Read more
Diogenes Laertius wrote in Greek in the third century CE. The piece of writing that has survived is his Lives of the Eminent Philosophers, a compilation of biographies. His anecdotes led me to read further, and to try to identify all the women Diogenes mentioned, leading to this series of blogposts. This first one presents some general points about Diogenes’ writing. Read more
"So much for the beginnings of philosophy, its subsequent developments, its various parts, and the number of the philosophic sects. ... It remains to speak of the philosophers themselves..." This month's Book Club comprises selections from Diogenes Laertius Lives of Eminent Philosophers. We will start and continue discussion in the forum, and will meet via Zoom on Tuesday, March 30 at 11 a.m. EDT. Read more
For centuries of European art, one of the most frequently portrayed moments from classical antiquity was that of an apocryphal meeting of the young Alexander of Macedonia (later to be known as "the Great") and the much older Diogenes of Sinope (later to be known as "the Cynic"). It is hard to imagine a more unlikely pair. Alexander was the brash young king of Macedonia, who had conquered Greece and… Read more
