Cynosarges (??????????) was a public gymnasium located just outside the walls of Ancient Athens on the southern bank of the Ilissos river.

Its name derives from Cynos-argos and means white or swift dog. The legend goes that on one occasion when Didymos, an Athenian, was performing a lavish sacrifice, a white (or swift) dog appeared and snatched the offering; Didymos was alarmed, but received an oracular message saying that he should establish a temple to Heracles in the place where the dog dropped the offering.^[1]

Herodotus mentions a shrine there in 490/89 BC,^[2] and it became a famous sanctuary of Heracles which was also associated with his mother Alcmena, his wife Hebe and his helper Iolaus.^[3] A renowned gymnasium was built there;^[4] it was meant especially for nothoi, illegitimate children.^[5] The Cynosarges was also where the Cynic Antisthenes was said to have lectured, a fact which was offered as one explanation as to how the sect got the name of Cynics.^[6]

References

External links

• Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy ? Cynosarges

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