Symposium (Plato)
The Symposium (Ancient Greek: Συμπόσιον, Sympósion [sympósi̯on]) is a philosophical text by Plato, dated c. 385–370 BC. It depicts a friendly contest of extemporaneous speeches given by a group of notable men attending a banquet. The men include the philosopher Socrates, the general and political figure Alcibiades, and the comic playwright Aristophanes. The speeches are to be given in praise of Eros, the god of love and desire.
The front page of the 1513 editio princeps of the Symposium | |
| Author | Plato |
|---|---|
| Original title | Συμπόσιον |
| Language | Ancient Greek |
| Genre | philosophy, Platonic dialogue |
Published in English | 1795 |
| 184.1 | |
| LC Class | B385.A5 N44 |
Original text | Συμπόσιον at Greek Wikisource |
| Translation | Symposium at Wikisource |
In the Symposium, Eros is recognized both as erotic lover and as a phenomenon capable of inspiring courage, valor, great deeds and works, and vanquishing man's natural fear of death. It is seen as transcending its earthly origins and attaining spiritual heights. The extraordinary elevation of the concept of love raises a question of whether some of the most extreme extents of meaning might be intended as humor or farce. Eros is almost always translated as "love," and the English word has its own varieties and ambiguities that provide additional challenges to the effort to understand the Eros of ancient Athens.
This dialogue is one of Plato's major works, and is appreciated for both its philosophical content and its literary qualities.