Crates of Thebes
One of the greek thinkers
About "Crates of Thebes"
Crates of Thebes was a skeptic philosopher. Crates gave away his money to live a life of poverty on the streets of Athens and Thebes. He married Hipparchia of Maroneia who lived in the same manner that he did. Respected by the people of Athens, he is remembered for being the teacher of Zeno of Citium, the founder of Stoicism. Various fragments of Crates' teachings survive, including his description of the ideal Cynic state.
Crates of Thebes Life
Crates was born c. 365 BC in Thebes. He was the son of Ascondus, and was the heir to a large fortune, which he is said to have renounced to live a life of Cynic poverty in Athens. Diogenes Laƫrtius preserves several different accounts of this story; one of them has Crates giving his money away to the citizens of Thebes, apparently after seeing the beggar king Telephus in a tragedy; whereas another account has him placing his money in the hands of a banker, with the agreement that he should deliver it to his sons, unless they too became philosophers, in which case he should distribute it among the poor.
Some fast information
Born:365 BC Thebes
Died: 285 BC Boeotia
Era: Ancient philosophy
Region: Western Philosophy
School: Cynicism
Main interests: Cynicism, Asceticism
Influenced by:
influenced By
- Hipparchia, Metrocles, Zeno of Citium