Hipparchia of Maronia (l. c. 350-280 BCE) was a Cynic philosopher who lived his faith and wandered the streets of ancient Athens, sleeping on the streets. He chose to live a poor life despite being rich. Because the philosophy he believed in was based on living a poor life.She was the wife of the Cynic Crates of Thebes. Crates also lived a poor life like him. Hipparchia decided one day that she would marry Crates and he would adopt Cynic philosophy. Let’s briefly explain what Cynic philosophy is first. Those who adopted Cynic philosophy had one principle: they would live a poor life and survive on what nature had to offer.
Crates
Crates was the son and heir of a wealthy Theban family and was certainly destined to live like his father when he went to see a play that changed everything for him. The play was the Tragedy of Telephus in which King Telephus, the son of Heracles, was wounded by Achilles and had to seek Achilles’ help to heal him because only one could close the wound. Disguised as a beggar, Telephus went to Achilles’ camp and convinced him to heal the wound with that spear.
It is unknown what part of this story moved Crates so dramatically but, later, he gave up all his personal property, abandoned his family and traveled to Athens to study philosophy. It may have been that he was impressed that a man dressed as a beggar was more effective at getting what he needed to survive than the same man as a king. Whatever his inspiration, he associated himself with Diogenes of Sinope in Athens, listened to his speeches and imitated his life.How Hipparchia and Crates began their love affair. Hipparchia fell in love with Crates after hearing his speech. She married him without thinking about any of her suitors, their wealth, their high birth, or their beauty. Crates was everything to her. She did not need anything in her life. She only needed Crates. Crates did not want to marry. Because marriage was forbidden by Cynic principles, he did not agree to marry. But seeing Hipparchia’s interest, he agreed to marry her. Then she fully embraced the Cynic life, gave away all her possessions, and lived with Crates on the streets of Athens. They are said to have had sexual intercourse in public on the balconies of public buildings, believing that nothing that was done in private should be shameful in public.
Crates and Hipparchia lived their faith and teachings on the streets until their deaths. It is believed that Crates died first of old age and natural causes, and Hipparchia then took over the school completely. They are both said to have died in the same year.
