The Greek ‘Classical Period’ was not only a time of beauty, art and culture. It is through historic writings that we learn that Diogenes the Cynic, the ancient Greek philosopher, was probably the man who invented ‘the finger’ insult!

The biographer of ancient Greek philosophers, Diogenes Laertios, wrote that the cynical philosopher made the gesture to orator Demosthenes in the 4th century BCE in Athens.

When people in an inn expressed their desire to see the great orator Demosthenes, the philosopher allegedly showed them the middle finger and exclaimed, “This, for you, is the demagogue of the Athenians.”

“This is one of the oldest known offensive gestures,” explains the famous British anthropologist Desmond Morris. “The middle finger symbolises the penis and the curved fingers on both sides, the two testicles. By doing so, you essentially give someone an offensive phallic gesture”.

Obviously, even for a famous philosopher, words sometimes are just not potent enough!

Diogenes was a very ‘colourful’ character, who claimed that poverty was a virtue. He begged for a living and often slept in a large ceramic jar (pithos) in Athens’ marketplace. He became notorious for his philosophical stunts, such as carrying a lamp during the day, and claiming to be looking for an honest man. He criticised Plato and sabotaged his lectures, sometimes distracting listeners by bringing food and eating during the discussions. Diogenes was also noted for having mocked Alexander the Great, both in public and to his face when he visited Corinth in 336 BCE.