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Metrocles was a Cynic philosopher from Maroneia who was born around 300 BCE. He studied in Aristotle’s Lyceum and eventually became a follower of Crates of Thebes who married Metrocles’ sister Hipparchia.

The story of Metrocles’ conversion to Cynicism is reported by Diogenes Laertius, although it must be taken with a grain of salt considering that Laertius was writing several centuries later. According to one version of the story, Metrocles had apparently passed gas while rehearsing a speech, and became so upset that he shut himself up in his home, attempting to commit suicide by starving himself. Crates then visit him and made him a dinner of lentils, explaining to him that what he had done was according to nature and therefore nothing to be ashamed of. When Crates himself farted in order to demonstrate how natural it was, Metrocles was persuaded to let go of his shame. This story reflects the Cynical rejection of social convention, which the Cynics rejected in favor of life according to nature. The lentils themselves are symbolically significant: not only were they useful for encouraging Crates’ flatulence, but they were often praised by Cynics as a humble, efficient food. The choice of this meal, which probably seemed crude by Metrocles’ formerly aristocratic standards, is a means of refusing the conventional preference for delicate, fancy foods in favor of a simple, self-sufficient approach to nutrition. The story is also a typical example of the Cynic use of humor to teach a moral lesson: Metrocles is not persuaded by Crates’ reasoned argument, but abandons his gloom only when he witnesses Crates performing the same impolite but natural and crudely humorous deed.

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