🎓🧑‍🎓 Interview with Diogenes Cask 🥇🏹

Interview with @diogenes_cask 9.1.2025

Thank you very much Diogenes that I can interview you!! 🙂 I made 20 questions for you. I hope that you like the questions!! And thank you very much for your answers!! 🙏🙏🙏

⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ PART I

1: One time you told that you are a Professor of History. What do you like the most about your job and was history your favourite class in high school? Which other subjects did you like in high school?

Yes, I have a PhD in ancient histories. I must recall some quote from Henry Glassie: “History is not the past but a map of the past, drawn from a particular point of view, to be useful to the modern traveller.” What I like most about my profession is that it serves me a certain opportunity to act like a time traveler without a fear of getting lost since I have the perfect map called "history". On the other hand, my favorite subjects were mathematics and physics while I was in high school. Since I am kind of a philomath by nature, I was interested in all subjects. I always thought that learning all around us, is the best way to show our appreciation for our existance on this very Earth.

2: If you can have dinner with one person from history and you can choose anybody!! Who do you choose and why?

That's quite difficult to pick a name from the enormous bag of history but I think I'd say the name of Xenophon of Athens since I'm a great admirer of his famous work "Anabasis." It's a real life story of the mercenary army's journey across Asia Minor and Mesopotamia. I think I would like listen to that marvellous story from him since he was a witness-first-hand in that incredible journey.

3: You wrote in your forum that you are also a Stoic person. Did you meet other Stoic persons on PPG or in your life in Turkey? Can everybody be a Stoic person?

Of all things, I favor the philosophy the most. In general philosophy gives the impression that it is full of some hidden wisdom in mysterious terms uttered by some dignified and respectable people. It is not a riddle that is decorated not to be fully solved. If we take ethics and morals as the foundation of mankind, then philosophy is the mindful material for building an stabilized character up. I'd define myself as a goblet filled up with a "coctail" of various philosophical schools. Stoicism is just one of them. Yes, anyone who is able to question and answer things with logical reasoning, but as doing this process not leaving the frames of nature, ethics, and morals, may become a Stoic.

4: Can you cook very well? And if you get guests what do you cook for them most times?

I can cook tastier dishes than Spartan Black Soup. 🙂 No, to be serious, I'm pretty good in preparing seafood and if I have guests, I prepare a dinner table with full of various seafood. Sea is generous enough to keep me and my guests pleased.

5: What do you think are the nicest things about PPG? And do you maybe have tips for @Etienne to make it even better or for other members?

In my opinion, the nicest thing in PPG, is the forum and the voiced minority being active in these forums. You can't know a person closer as reading their profile, watching their pictures etc. The best way is to listen to them as they express their opinions and ideas. On the other hand, there is a silent majority inactive in the forums. I see them as extrasolar systems to explore. I don't have any tips but my gratitude for Etienne as the creator of expanding PPG Universe.

Thank you very much Diogenes and i am SUPER greatful that you make time to answer the questions!! 😊 I always like your writing on the forum A LOTTT!!! And this interview is already very special for me!! If anybody have questions or things that you would like to say, you can post them below! ⬇️⬇️ Thank you very much!! 🙏🙏

I looked up some things from the interview!! And these pictures may be nice to see!! 🙂

Henry Glassie

Xenophon of Athens

Spartan black soup!!

I have made the new questions for Part II and i will share them with @diogenes_cask soon but i already want to ask one thing and also give a comment about the part above!!

When i read answer 1 i saw that you ALSO like mathematics and physics in high school. If you could NOT be a history professor, would you be a professor in one of the other two topics? 🙂 And i liked a lot this line what you said: "What I like most about my profession is that it serves me a certain opportunity to act like a time traveler without a fear of getting lost since I have the perfect map called "history"." That is really beautiful!! 🥰🥰 My teacher always said if you like adventure books or movies you like history!! 😛

And i have actually two comments:

1️⃣ On Netflix there is a very nice series about Alexander the Great!! It is not a documentary but also a series and we have watched part but not everything yet. And maybe you or people who read this interview maybe like to see it! I thought about it because of what you said in answer 2 because the person you mentioned is a little bit like Alexander the Great right? Because Alexander also went to Persia and Egypt and Turkey. In her interview on the forum @Sarahsalah27 told about the city Alexandria in Egypt and it is really beautiful!! Maybe Sarah you also like to read the book that @diogenes_cask mentioned in answer 2: Anabasis from the king Xenophon of Athens!! I never yet read a book of a king!! 👑 👑

2️⃣ I NEVER want to eat Spartan Black Soup!!!!! 😬😬🫣🫣😵‍💫😵‍💫

I have made the new questions for Part II and i will share them with @diogenes_cask soon but i already want to ask one thing and also give a comment about the part above!!

When i read answer 1 i saw that you ALSO like mathematics and physics in high school. If you could NOT be a history professor, would you be a professor in one of the other two topics? 🙂 And i liked a lot this line what you said: "What I like most about my profession is that it serves me a certain opportunity to act like a time traveler without a fear of getting lost since I have the perfect map called "history"." That is really beautiful!! 🥰🥰 My teacher always said if you like adventure books or movies you like history!! 😛

And i have actually two comments:

1️⃣ On Netflix there is a very nice series about Alexander the Great!! It is not a documentary but also a series and we have watched part but not everything yet. And maybe you or people who read this interview maybe like to see it! I thought about it because of what you said in answer 2 because the person you mentioned is a little bit like Alexander the Great right? Because Alexander also went to Persia and Egypt and Turkey. In her interview on the forum @Sarahsalah27 told about the city Alexandria in Egypt and it is really beautiful!! Maybe Sarah you also like to read the book that @diogenes_cask mentioned in answer 2: Anabasis from the king Xenophon of Athens!! I never yet read a book of a king!! 👑 👑

2️⃣ I NEVER want to eat Spartan Black Soup!!!!! 😬😬🫣🫣😵‍💫😵‍💫

Thank you so much for your lovely comment! 😊

I also love history a lot, and I totally agree with what your teacher said—it really does feel like an adventure! As for the Alexander the Great series on Netflix, it sounds very exciting, and I’ll definitely check it out! And thank you for suggesting the book Anabasis by King Xenophon—it sounds like a very interesting and adventurous read, so I’ll add it to my reading list.

As for Alexandria, it truly is a very beautiful city with a rich history. If you love history and the sea, I’m sure you’d really enjoy it!

And finally, I completely agree with you about Spartan Black Soup... 😅 It sounds way too strange, and I don’t think I’d ever try it either!

Thank you again for your wonderful comment! 💕

Xenophon of Athens, was not a king. He was a polymath, philosopher, historian, author and a soldier. He was the pupil of famous Socrates. His book Anabasis has been used by Alexander the Great since it is pretty rich with details on Anatolia, Mesopotamia and Persians.

I remember some anectode on black soup. Maybe it gives you some hint about the taste of black soup.

"When a Greek from another city was invited to dine at one of the Spartan Syssitia, he asked to sample some of the famous black broth. Upon tasting it he proclaimed “Now I understand why Spartan men are so eager to die on the battlefield!”

Thank you very much @Sarahsalah27 and @diogenes_cask for your replies!!! Can I ask you both if Alexander the Great really made Alexandria as city or did he just win it from others in a battle and gave his name to the city?

And @diogenes_cask do you think that Sarah and I can read Anabasis or is it super complicated? 🙄🙄 One time i read a book about Marco Polo because i think it is nice and it describes a lot about Asia and also big part of China in old times and that is super interesting!! But it was not what Marco Polo wrote but more about his life as a story book.

Sorry I have one more question but I am curious about it!! 😛 Would you eat one time the Black Soup @diogenes_cask if you could do that in the Spartan Syssitia (does that mean restaurant?) or would you skip it? 🙂

Thank you very much @Sarahsalah27 and @diogenes_cask for your replies!!! Can I ask you both if Alexander the Great really made Alexandria as city or did he just win it from others in a battle and gave his name to the city?

And @diogenes_cask do you think that Sarah and I can read Anabasis or is it super complicated? 🙄🙄 One time i read a book about Marco Polo because i think it is nice and it describes a lot about Asia and also big part of China in old times and that is super interesting!! But it was not what Marco Polo wrote but more about his life as a story book.

Sorry I have one more question but I am curious about it!! 😛 Would you eat one time the Black Soup @diogenes_cask if you could do that in the Spartan Syssitia (does that mean restaurant?) or would you skip it? 🙂

Alexander established "at least" 24 cities named Alexandria all the way to India. Alexandria in Egypt, is just one of them.

Yes, you can easily read Anabasis. Not any heavier task than reading an ordinary novel.

Syssitia is the common meals taken in public among the Dorians in Sparta and Crete, and confined to men and youths only. Spartan law required all adult Spartan citizens - even the kings - to join and share their evening meals with a specific dining club or syssitia. Absence without leave from a syssitia was heavily fined. Each person was supplied with a cup of mixed wine, which was filled again when required; but drinking to excess was prohibited at Sparta as well as in Crete.

I've already tasted "mélas zōmós" - black soup - while I was in Greece, attending a festival. It doesn't kill I may say. 🙂

Thank you very much @diogenes_cask!!! I think that he has the most cities in the world with his name!! Did you visit all the Alexander cities? That would be a lot to visit!!!!

@Sarahsalah27 we can read the book Anabasis!! Maybe if we did that we can tell diogenes what we think of it?

And it is super brave you ate the black soup!!! It has blood in it so i think i would faint and cant eat a spoon of it!! 😬😬

PART II

6: If we visit your city Istanbul in Turkey, what do you think are the 3 most beautiful things to see? And if you have a free day yourself in Istanbul, where do you like to go to the most?

In my opinion, Istanbul has an enigmatic beauty with her treasure of legends all around the city. I liken Istanbul to an aged, mischievious but yet fascinatingly charmful lady. One might get bewitched by her charms easily but it shall not be easy to redeem for her capricious and melancholical spirit. That's why the city has been a great playground for poets so far. Of course, my advices are shaped by my very interests. First, I'd recommend to visit the Basilica Cistern. This remarkable structure garners global interest, particularly due to the enigmatic Basilica Cistern Medusa Heads, adding an element of mystique and fascination to the site. The softly illuminated cistern, adorned with orderly columns and their shimmering reflections on the water, offers a visual delight and mystical tranquillity. Second, I'd recommend to visit Pierre Loti Hill. You can simply sit in a coffeehouse located there and enjoy the magnificient view of the Golden Horn. It's a perfect spot to draw a spiritual breathe of peace away from the chaos in the city. Lastly, I'd recommend a walk through the district called Beyoğlu aka Pera. It's sort of an western "oasis" in the very heart of the orient. If feels like getting flashed back into 19th century. That's the legacy heritage from "others" in Istanbul.

7: If you can give a good advice to all children of high school in the world that parents often forget, what tip do you give?

Well, I would like to express that life is not a race in the hippodrome of education, and the parents should stop acting like the driver in the chariot. Let them also live and enjoy their youth.

8: If you are travelling a long way like Alexander the Great or Xenophon of Athens who you mentioned in part I and you can ONLY bring 3 books with you: which books do you bring and why?

Odisseia by Homer, Aeneid by Virgil, and Metamorphoses by Ovid. Because these are three columns of liteal elegancy and fourth column is my very imagination.

9: A super smart and nice member of PPG is @Sarahsalah27 and she wants to study in Oxford and do super good in that university! And a lot of other members of PPG study now like @mayuuram for example and @Sabri_KC. Do you as a History Professor have a good tip for them about what you think is important in university if they would also want a PhD or become a professor like you?

Becoming an academician is an exact "ad augusta per angusta" case. They should always remember the famous quote from Socrates: "Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel." Current education system is based on the filling of a vessel. They should stay as the kindling of a flame.

10: If you are at home alone and you can sing super loud with music! Which songs do you like to sing? And do you play a music instrument? And if not: would you like that in the future?

Yes, I play several music instruments. I have been playing piano since my childhood, additionally I can play stringed instruments fairly well. I never play or sing super loud when I'm home. Kind of a respect for neighbours. A bird never sings louder than it should be in the nature. I love to perform classical and folk bits in general. On the other hand, I'm not a music nazi, I can listen to anything fitting into music theory nicely. 🙂

I searched on google for photos of the places Diogenes mentioned in answer 6 of his interview and i found these beautiful pictures of the places:

⬆️⬆️ Basilica Cistern

⬆️⬆️ The Medusa Heads

⬆️⬆️ Pierre Loti Hill