Les astragales de Diogène
(2021) Les études classiques — Vol. 89, p. 65-85 (2021)
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- Abstract
- (en) In his Republic (Πολιτεία), Diogenes the Cynic ordains by law that astragali should be the currency (νόμισμα). This paper shows that Diogenes’ choice is neither sarcastic nor arbitrary, but fully relies on the principles of ancient Cynicism and on the polysemy of the astragalus in the ancient Greek world, in particular in Athens. Diogenes strives to change political norms, as he mints coins with another die (παραχαράττω τὸ νόμισμα). The Cynic hero Heracles serves as a coin die (χαρακτήρ) for Diogenes’ life as well as for Alexander’s coins. The astragali are a legitimate currency (νόμισμα) because of their ancient function as σύμβολον and their widespread use as weight and monetary symbols.
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Doyen, C. (2021). Les astragales de Diogène. Les études classiques, 89, 65-85. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/31416 (Original work published 2021)