in later times antisthenes became to be seen as the founder of the cynics but it is by no means certain that he would have understood or recognized the term aristotle writing a generation later refers several times to antisthenes and his followers "the antistheneans" but never associates him with cynics nor with aristotles contemporary diogenes of sinope there are many later tales about diogenes dogging antisthenes footsteps and becoming his faithful hound but it is not certain whether the two men ever actually met even the story about antisthenes lecturing in the cynosarges gymnasium may be a later desire to link him with a place associated with cynic philosophy although as the son of a foreign-born mother antisthenes would probably have frequented the place it is true however that antisthenes adopted a rigorous ascetic lifestyle and he certainly developed many of the principles of cynic philosophy which became an inspiration for diogenes and many later cynics