“Not one tower does my country have, not one roof, But for home and city, the entire earth lies, At my disposition for a dwelling.”
Diogenes Laertius, on a Cynic’s view of the world
The moment Hipparchia of Maroneia, saw Crates of Thebes, the renowned Cynic philosopher, she was passionately and irrevocably in love. Nothing, not even her parents’ strong misgivings, could dissuade her from marrying him. She would rather end her life than face the prospect of living without him. Indeed, Crates warned her of what her life would be with him. It is said that he disrobed and pointed at his garment, saying, “Here is the bridegroom, and this is his property.”
Crates of Thebes, once heir to a considerable fortune, gave it all away to live a life of poverty on the streets of Athens. According to many accounts, he lived with a cheerful simplicity, well-liked by all who knew him. The meeting with Hipparchia came by way of her brother, Metrocles, who was a student of Crates.
Hipparchia became an ardent devotee of the Cynic philosophy and became an eminent Cynic philosopher while still in her early twenties. Cynics believed that the purpose of life was to seek virtue and live in harmony with nature. Renouncing conventional desires for wealth, power and fame, Cynics took pleasure in an unadorned life, without the complications of materialism.
Crates and Hipparchia lived remarkable lives. Their marriage, which produced a son and daughter, was based on mutual respect and equality, a foreign concept for ancient Greece. Hipparchia embraced the Cynic poverty-based lifestyle, donned masculine attire, and accompanied Crates everywhere in public. The Athenians were stunned by their lack of propriety. With her husband by her side, Hipparchia fought tirelessly for the rights of women bound within a strict, male dominated culture. She dared to flaunt the status quo and chose her personal destiny.
“I, Hipparchia chose not the tasks of rich-robed woman, but the manly life of the Cynic.
Brooch-clasped tunics, well-clad shoes, and perfumed headscarves pleased me not;
But with wallet and fellow staff, together with coarse cloak and bed of hard ground,
My name shall be greater than Atalanta: for wisdom is better than mountain running.”
Epigram ascribed to Antipater of Sidon on the life of Hipparchia
Lady Budd 
A life style that appears so simple but ,yet ,for most of us would be incredibly difficult.
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I couldn’t agree more! I must confess, I enjoy my creature comforts of water on demand and soft pillows. Ah, the Cynics life is not for me, I’m afraid.
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Hi Rebecca: My attention is turned to your photo posted here. Was that photo taken in Rhode Island of Greece? I took some pix there with similar floor mosaic.
Thank you for another educational post on the Greek philosophers.
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If I remember correctly, this was taken at the site of the first Olympics. I recall thinking that I was walking on the same path as the ancients! I felt lightheaded with the sense of destiny, or maybe it was the heat of the sun!!! 🙂
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Thank you, Rebecca. I had been to the old Olympic site, but we were only there to take a picture and had to leave. Never really had the chance to walk around.
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I know exactly what you mean about time!!! I remember almost running through the Louvre because time was running out. These places require time, something we have precious little of when traveling.
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So beautiful words photo, dear my friend, I wish u a wonderful day!
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Thank you so much for your visit!!! You made my day….
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Ein schönes Wochenende wünschen wir.
LG. Wolfgang
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Und Sie, mein Freund! Ihre Besuche zu machen mein Tag so besonders macht. Sonne pur! 🙂
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Why am I reminded of St. Francis of Assissi?
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A very interesting point! I think that St. Francis of Assisi would be rather taken aback by their lifestyle, but there are great similarities in their calling to lead a life of service. Thanks so much for joining the conversation!
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Love your mosaics photo, Rebecca. I’m afraid I love my creature comforts too much to ever contemplate becoming a Cynic. 🙂
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I with you on the creature comforts! A soft pillow, running water, fridge, stove and a washer and dryer!! Ah….
I am starting to take photos of the ground, because I am finding that I am stepping on artwork when I walk these pathways.
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It’s lovely to stumble upon someone else blogging about Hipparchia! She is such a wonderful historical figure, especially as an example of a woman from ancient Greece living and practicing a philosophical life. I wrote about here as well: http://melaniekelliher.wordpress.com/2013/05/31/lecriture-feminine-hipparchia/
Would love to hear more! I’m especially in love with the photograph you have taken.
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I am delighted to meet a someone else who admires Hipparchia! I found her life to be remarkable. It is so easy to conform to the status quo, to accept mediocrity. It is quite another to find a way to transform social structures into something new, something greater…
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