ZEUXIS

Fast-rewind 2,500 years…. Imagine you are in Athens, wandering around the Agora, the Acropolis and other sites. Striding towards you is a man. His leonine features catch the sun, his hair streams out behind him. As he gets closer to you, you see he is wearing a scarlet cloak over his usual clothes – this is normal for him since he wishes to be conspicuous. He passes you and you see that he has his name embroidered in gold (real gold) letters on the back of the cloak. This is Zeuxis, the fashionable” (and very well paid) painter of all those who (consider) themselves the top tier of Athenian society. The majority of the population gaze at him open-mouthed in awe… but if you are like me (or Socrates), you merely say, “what does that prove?”

Fast forward to today; on every street in almost every town, one can see the Zeuxis’ of today. They “strut their stuff” with their designer labelled clothes, the latest smart phone, the up-market tablet in their hands, their air of superiority. They cry out for similar attention. But, if you are like me, you merely say “what does that prove?” – And I am sure Socrates would say the same.

Nothing has changed in 2,500 years; people still want to be conspicuous, to draw attention to themselves, not through what they are, but what they have.

So, I will say it one more time… “what does that prove?”

Until next time (and not conspicuous),

Peripatetic Scribe