Cultos a filósofos griegos antiguos en Diógenes Laercio: evidencias y funciones

Abstract

It is now admitted without discussion that, in some cases, there is good evidence for a real heroification or deification of ancient Greek philosophers after their deaths, by establishing a cult, or a sacred space, with an altar, which is sometimes both witnessed by documents and discovered by archaeological excavations. In Diogenes Laertius’ biographies of philosophers, however, the epigram is the usual mean to enshrine the apotheosis of a philosopher. In fact, references to this typically Greek religious process are seldom attested in the body of narrations, unless they are used precisely to denounce their falsehood. I will thus not be only concerned with the evidence for cult devoted to the philosophers in Diogenes Laertius, but rather with the view that the Greeks had about the cult to their philosophers in a particularly significant time, namely that immediately preceding the advent of the so-called pagan holy men, in order to observe mainly their narrative functions.

Keywords

• Diogenes Laertius
• Greek Biograhy
• heroification
• cults to ancient Greek philsophers
• Greek Religion