D I O 



749 



D I O 



Diogenes. 



Diodesian and gold. He instituted a variety of forms at court, 

 which precluded access to his throne, and entrusted the 

 care of his palace to the vigilance of eunuchs ; required 

 every subject, even of the highest rank, when at length 

 introduced into his presence, to fall prostrate to the 

 ground, and to approach him as a divinity ; ordained 

 them even, it is said, to kiss his feet, and had his shoes, 

 for the purpose of this ceremony, embroidered with 

 gold, and studded with precious stones. He multi- 

 plied offices and magistrates not only in his own imme- 

 diate service, but in every department of the state ; a 

 circumstance which produced an increase of the taxes, 

 and tended to impoverish his subjects. He was won- 

 derfully addicted to building, and embellished many of 

 the principal cities with magnificent edifices. At Ni- 

 comedia, in particular, he indulged this passion to an 

 extravagant and pernicious extent, erecting a mint, an 

 arsenal, a circus, a palace for his wife, another for his 

 daughter, and several royal residences for himself, 

 obliging many of the citizens to abandon their habita- 

 tions, in order to make room for these structures, and 

 exhausting the finances of those that remained, by the 

 expences of materials, workmen, and beasts of burden. 

 Nor did he hesitate to pull down the most costly build- 

 ings, again and again, when they failed to please his 

 fancy, and to cause them to be rebuilt upon a different 

 plan. His baths, at Rome, were particularly remark- 

 able for their magnificence and extent, being capable 

 of accommodating 3,000 persons, and having more the 

 appearance of a city than of a single edifice. His person- 

 al character was that of an experienced politician, with- 

 out the presence of any shining abilities or estimable 

 moral qualities. He was skilful in the direction of 

 public business, and thoroughly versed in the know- 

 ledge of mankind; dexterous in conceiving his schemes, 

 and steady in the pursuit of his ends, even while he 

 prudently varied his means ; capable of profound dis- 

 simulation, with all the appearance of military frank- 

 ness ; naturally inclined to violent measures, but at the 

 same time master of his temper, and completely able 

 to submit all his passions to the aims of his ambition, 

 which he knew also how to invest with the semblance 

 of justice and of public utility. He was well acquaint- 

 ed with the military art, but not very apt to expose his 

 own person to danger ; inclined to avarice, and bent 

 upon amassing wealth, which he frequently procured 

 by acts of cruelty. He was universally noted for pride 

 and arrogance, generally suspicious and distrustful; 

 while, at the same time, none of those whom he called 

 his friends, could ever discover that sincerity of affec- 

 tion on his part, which would fully justify confidence 

 on theirs. See Ancient Univ. Hist. vol. xv. p. 483 ; 

 Gibbon's Rom. Hist. vol. ii. ; Crevier's Rom. Emp. vol. 

 ix. x. ; Mosheim's Eccles. Hist. vol. i. ; and Esprin- 

 chard's Histoire Auguste, p. 4-97- (q) 



DIODIA, a genus of plants of the class Tetrandria, 

 and order Monogynia. See Botany, p. 123. 



DIOGENES, a celebrated Grecian philosopher of 

 the sect called Cynics, was born at Sinope, a city of 

 Pontus, in the third year of the 91st Olympiad, or 414 

 B. C. His father, Icetas, was a banker, who, being con- 

 victed of debasing the public coin, was banished from 

 his native city. From thence he removed to Athens, 

 where Diogenes offered himself as a pupil to Antisthe- 

 nes, the founder of the Cynic sect, who at first peevish- 

 ly refused to admit him. Diogenes still continuing to 

 importune him, the surly philosopher lifted up his staff 

 to drive him away, upon which the young student ex- 



claimed, " Beat me as you please, I will still be your I)iogent». 

 scholar !" Antisthenes at length consented to admit """"V""" 

 him ; and he afterwards became his intimate friend and 

 companion. From that period, Diogenes adopted the 

 opinions and principles, and conformed to the austere 

 habits of his master; distinguishing himself, upon all 

 occasions, by a thorough contempt of riches and world- 

 ly honours, and an excessive indignation against every 

 species of luxury. He wore a coarse cloak, carried a 

 wallet and a staff, made the porticoes and other public 

 places his habitation, and, like a common mendicant, 

 sought a scanty and precarious subsistence'in the casual 

 contributions of charity. Having been disappointed in 

 his endeavours to procure a cell, he is said to have ta- 

 ken up his abode in a cask, tub, or large open vessel, in 

 the Metroum. This circumstance is alluded to by Ju- 

 venal, Sat. xiv. v. 308. 



" Dolia riudi 

 Non ardent Cynici ; sifregeris, altera jiet 

 Cras domus, ant eadem, plumbo commissa, manebit. 



' " The naked Cynic mocks such anxious cares, 

 His earthen tub no conflagration fears; 

 If crack'd or broken, he procures a new, 

 Or, coarsely soldering, makes the old one do." 



Gifford. 



This tub is also mentioned by other authors ; but no 

 notice is taken of it by several ancient writers, who 

 have dwelt upon the particulars of the life of Diogenes ; 

 and it is therefore doubtful, whether this piece of his 

 history be founded on fact, or whether it ought not ra- 

 ther to be reckoned among the number of those unac- 

 credited stories, which were so frequently invented, re- 

 lated, and believed, in regard to the lives and habits of 

 many of the ancient philosophers. 



At an advanced period of life, Diogenes is said to 

 have undertaken a voyage to Mgma ; and having met 

 with pirates, he was made prisoner, carried into Crete, 

 and exposed as a slave to public sale. Being asked 

 what he could do, he replied, " I can govern men ; 

 therefore sell me to one who wants a master." Xenia- 

 des, a wealthy Corinthian, being struck by the singu- 

 larity of this reply, immediately purchased him ; upon 

 which Diogenes told him, that he should be more use- 

 ful to him as his physician than as his slave. On their 

 arrival at Corinth, Xeniades presented him with his li- 

 berty, and entrusted him with the direction of his chil- 

 dren's education, and with the management of his do- 

 mestic concerns; in which situation Diogenes acquitted 

 himself so much to the satisfaction of his master, that 

 the latter used to say, the gods had sent a good genius 

 to his house. 



During his residence at Corinth, Diogenes frequent- 

 ly attended the assemblies of the people at the Crancum, 

 in the vicinity of the town, and at the Isthmian game? ; 

 omitting no opportunity of inveighing against the vices 

 and follies of the times, and inculcating the practice of 

 temperance and virtue. It was upon one of these oc- 

 casions, that the conference between Alexander the 

 Great and Diogenes is said to have taken place. The 

 story is of doubtful authenticity, but it is thus related 

 by Plutarch. After the death of his father, Alexander 

 received the congratulations of all ranks on his being 

 appointed to the command of the Grecian army, in then* 

 projected expedition against the Persians. Upon this 

 occasion, Diogenes was absent ; and Alexander express- 

 ed his surprise at the circumstance. Anxious, how- 

 ever, to gratify his curiosity by the sight of such a ce« 



