On the exile of Diogenes

Keywords: Diógenes de Sínope, cinismo antigo, exílio, falsificação da moeda, uso das representações, mito fundador

Abstract

This article revisits the theme of the exile of Diogenes the Cynic, which occurred due to an alleged crime of ‘currency counterfeiting’ (παραχαράττειν τὸ νόμισμα), which took him from Sinope, his hometown, to Athens, and whose main versions have been preserved in the opening of Diogenes Laertius᾽ Book VI (D. L. VI 20-21), the book dedicated to cynicism. Connecting this to other relevant themes of the cynical tradition, specially the ‘use of representations᾽ (χρπῆσις φαντασιῶν), it is argued that exile is the alma mater of Diogenian thought, emerging as a founding myth of cynicism.

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Published
2026-04-08
How to Cite
Flores-Júnior, O. (2026). On the exile of Diogenes. Cuadernos de Filología Clásica. Estudios Griegos E Indoeuropeos, 36, 195-208. https://doi.org/10.5209/cfcg.104279
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Articles