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Demonax ((ギリシア語:Δημώναξ), ''Dēmōnax'', ''gen''.: Δημώνακτος; c. AD 70 – c. 170) was a Greek Cynic philosopher. Born in Cyprus, he moved to Athens, where his wisdom, and his skill in solving disputes, earned him the admiration of the citizens. He taught Lucian, who wrote a ''Life of Demonax'' in praise of his teacher. When he died he received a magnificent public funeral. ==Life== The only source we have for the life of Demonax is Lucian, who describes Demonax in glowing terms, in contrast to the disreputable Cynics who Lucian reviled.〔Lucian, ''Fugitivi'', 16; ''De Morte Peregrini'', 3.〕 He is not mentioned by any other contemporary writer. He is mentioned in the 5th century by Eunapius, but only because he knows of him from Lucian's work.〔Eunapius, ''Lives of the Sophists'', 454〕 It is possible, therefore, that Demonax is a character invented by Lucian. There are, however, some sayings attributed to Demonax found in anthologies compiled by later writers which are not found in Lucian's work.〔Mullach, F. W. A. ''Fragmenta Philosophorum Graecorum'' (Paris, 1867) lists 16 sayings of Demonax which are found in Stobaeus; John of Damascus; and the ''Loci Communes'' of the Byzantine monks "Maximus and Antonius."〕 Demonax was born c. 70 AD,〔Dudley, D., ''A History of Cynicism'', page 159. Methuen. (1937)〕 in Cyprus, where he belonged to an influential family.〔Lucian, ''Demonax'', 3〕 He was led by a love of philosophy to become a philosopher. He was taught by the best philosophers of the day, including Agathobulus, Demetrius, and Epictetus.〔 He eventually moved to Athens, where he seems initially to have offended the citizens,〔Lucian, ''Demonax'', 11〕 but eventually he came to be regarded with reverence for his resolute character: To a natural impulse towards the good, an innate yearning for philosophy which manifested itself in childish years, that he owed his superiority to all the things that ordinary men pursue. He took independence and candour for his guiding principles, lived himself an upright, wholesome, irreproachable life, and exhibited to all who saw or heard him the model of his own disposition and philosophic sincerity.〔 He is described as a peace-maker, able to bring harmony between husband and wife, and to solve disputes between brothers.〔Lucian, ''Demonax'', 9〕 Lucian compares him to both Socrates and Diogenes,〔Lucian, ''Demonax'', 5〕 and when Demonax was asked which philosophers he preferred, he is said to have replied, "I admire them all; Socrates I revere, Diogenes I admire, Aristippus I love."〔Lucian, ''Demonax'', 62〕 When Demonax was once asked why he never sacrificed to Athena, he replied, "he did not sacrifice to Athena, because she could not want his offerings." Similarly, he avoided initiation into the Eleusian Mysteries, saying, "if the mysteries were bad, no one ought to be initiated; if good, they should be divulged to everybody."〔 He apparently lived to be nearly a hundred,〔 by which time the Athenians loved him dearly: Not Athens only, but all Greece was so in love with him that as he passed the great would give him place and there would be a general hush. Towards the end of his long life he would go uninvited into the first house that offered, and there get his dinner and his bed, the household regarding it as the visit of some heavenly being which brought them a blessing. When they saw him go by, the baker-wives would contend for the honour of supplying him, and a happy woman was the actual donor. Children too used to call him father, and bring him offerings of fruit.〔Lucian, ''Demonax'', 63〕 He was said to have died (c. 170 AD) by starving himself,〔Lucian, ''Demonax'', 65〕 and the Athenians gave him a magnificent public funeral.〔Lucian, ''Demonax'', 66, 67〕 The crater Demonax on the Moon is named after him. Demonax is also a genus of longicorn beetles (Cerambycidae), characterised in part by possessing several spines on their antennae. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Demonax」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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