The Hemlock Cup: Socrates, Athens, and the Search for the Good Life
Page 55
7 Plato, Phaedo, 69b. Trans. H. N. Fowler (1914) [LCL].
8 Plato continued on to Sicily, southern Italy, Cyrene and Egypt.
9 Syllogism based on Aristotle’s system of logic as recounted in the Organon.
10 Gold keeps its colour at the highest heat, after many thousands of years in the earth. But bronze – the heroic element of Athens – tarnishes. So many bronze statues from the ‘Golden Age’ have vanished that we can be fooled into thinking this was a land of stone. But bronze would have been everywhere, some of it painted, some of it left au naturel; coins were made of bronze, as were furniture decorations, ceremonial swords, religious tokens. As it oxidises, raw bronze dulls, greens, its surface complexes over time. As the Athenian democracy was oxygenated, as it breathed in and out over the years, its patina too became more complex.
11 Even a god had to be morally good in Socrates’ way of thinking; this was very unconventional, see, e.g., Euthyphro 6a–c.
Coda: The tomb of Socrates – the Tower of the Winds
1 Trans. Brickhouse and Smith (2002).
2 Beard (2002), p.71ff.
3 Plutarch, Moralia, On Banishment, 600f.
4 Plato, Apology, 29a–b. Trans. Brickhouse and Smith (2002).
Afterword
1 Zanker (1995), 58.
2 Plato, Phaedrus, 275d‘e. Trans. H. N. Fowler [LCL]. Nb. Socrates’ mistrust of the written word was particularly out of kilter with Athens towards the end of his life when democracy had been declared restored on stone stelai around the city and on papyrus sheets in the Metroon.
APPENDIX ONE
Honouring Aphrodite
1 Euripides, Frag. 898; see Nauck (1926), p.648; Segal (1965), p.119 – see Rosenzweig (2007), p.80.
2 One day in the future, doubtless, Aphrodite’s sanctuary on the banks of the Ilissos, Aphrodite Ourania ‘in the gardens’ will be discovered, a sanctuary that would have been familiar to Socrates.
3 Dillon (2003), 57–8.
4 Pausanias, 1.27.3.
5 See Rosenzweig (2007), p.18, for a discussion of the likelihood of this nomination. I have relied heavily on Rosenzweig in this Appendix.
6 1980–2, American School at Athens.
7 The inscription continues with the names of the benefactors. ‘Archinos, son of Alypetos from Skambonidai, and his mother, Menekrateia, daughter of Dexikrates from ikaria, priestess of Aphrodite’ Mid-fourth-century BC. IG II2 4596; Beschi (1967/8), p.522; Hansen (1989), p.186, no. 775.
8 Aphrodite was of course worshipped elsewhere in Attica: at the Bay of Phaleron east of Piraeus, in the Ilissos and in Daphni to the north. And at least eight state-sponsored shrines in Attica.
9 4 of Hecatombaeon and 4 of Munichion.
10 We know from Menander’s New Comedy The Flatterer how the rites – in this case to Aphrodite on the fourth of the month – were practised. The Athenians, on this occasion a guild of Aphrodite-worshippers called the Tetradistai, hired a professional sacrificer.
11 Plato, Symposium, 211b-c. Trans. W. Hamilton (1951).
12 Plato, Gorgias, 508a. Trans. D. J. Zeyl (1997) [adapt.].
13 Plato, Philebus, 28d–30c.
14 See Rosenzweig (2007), 18, for a discussion of the likelihood of this nomination.
15 Plato, Phaedrus, 251b. Trans. H. N. Fowler [LCL]; Plato, Symposium, 177e; Xenophon, Symposium, 8.2.
APPENDIX TWO
Mysteria – the Eleusinian Mysteries
1 Cat. ref. 4011. My thanks to Professor Cosmopoulos for this reference and for his time spent guiding me around this site.
2 Although slaves, it seemed, could also be involved.
3 Aeschylus’ home deme was Eleusis.
4 See Parker (2007), 46ff.
5 Plato, Phaedrus, 250c; Plutarch, Frag. 178; both cited by Parker (2007), 354–5.
6 Conveniently, Eleusis doubled up as a sanctuary for the body as well as the soul. The complex was surrounded by a fortified wall. Xerxes’ men had smashed this down in 479 BC, but it had been re-built with a flourish as part of Pericles’ grand PR exercise, and within thirty years it kept Greeks safe once more. Once democracy was re-restored to Athens in 404/3 BC Eleusis was declared a refuge for oligarchs (until 401). If those with a cloudy political past felt unhappy in Athens they were guaranteed safe passage here.
7 By Socrates’ day, Eleusis had already been a significant ritual site for well over 1,000 years. See Cosmopoulos (2003) for a fascinating description of Eleusis and the Eleusinian Mysteries. Eleusis exemplified the inescapable rhythm of ritual life in Athens that Socrates threatened to disturb. The timing of his trial did indeed interrupt that calendrical and meterological beat.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Ancient Texts and Translations
ARISTOPHANES, Birds; Lysistrata; Women at the Thesmophoria:
Birds, Lysistrata, Women at the Thesmophoria; translated by J. Henderson. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann Ltd. 2000.
ARISTOPHANES, Clouds:
Clouds/Aristophanes; edited with translation and notes by A. H. Sommerstein. Warminster: Aris & Phillips. 1982.
ARISTOPHANES, Wasps:
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ATHENAEUS, The Deipnosophists:
The Learned Banqueters, translated by S. D. Olson. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. 2007.
AULUS GELLIUS, The Attic Nights:
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CALLIMACHUS/, Hymns and Epigrams:
Hymns and Epigrams/ Callimachus; translated by A. W. Mair. London: Heinemann. 1955.
CALLIMACHUS, Hymn to Delos:
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DIOGENES LAERTIUS, Lives of Eminent Philosophers:
The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers; translated by C. D. Yonge. London: George Bell and Sons. Reprinted in original format by Kessinger Publishing. 1901.
EURIPIDES, Selected Fragmentary Plays:
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ISOCRATES:
Isocrates in three volumes; translated by L. V Hook. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann Ltd. 1986.
PANAETIUS:
Panaetii Rhodii Fragmenta; edited by M. van Straaten. Leiden: E. J. Brill. 1952.
PAUSANIAS, Description of Greece:
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PAUSANIAS, Description of Greece:
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PLATO, Crito:
Plato: Crito; with introduction and commentary by C. Emlyn-Jones. London: Duckworth/Bristol Classical Press. 1999.
PLATO, Euthyphro; Apology; Crito; Phaedo; Phaedrus:
Euthyphro; Apology; Crito; Phaedo; Phaedrus; translated by H. N. Fowler and introduced by W. R. M. Lamb. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: Heinemann. 1960.
PLATO, Laches; Protagoras; Meno; Euthydemus:
Laches; Protagoras; Meno; Euthydemus/Plato; translated by W. R. M. Lamb. London: William Heinemann Ltd. 1924.
PLATO, Laws:
Laws in twelve volumes, vols. 10 & 11 translated by R. G. Bury. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann Ltd. 1967 & 1968.
PLATO, Phaedo:
Plato: the Phaedo; edited with introduction and notes by W. D. Geddes. London: Macmillan 1863.
PLATO, Protagoras:
Protagoras/ Plato; edited by N. Denyer. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 2008.
PLATO, Republic:
Plato Republic 1–2.368c4; with introduction, translation and commentary by C. Emlyn-Jones. Oxford: Aris and Philips Classical Texts, Oxbow Books. 2007.
PLATO, The Statesman; Philebus; ion:
The Statesman; Philebus; Ion/ Plato; translated by H. N. Fowler. London: W. Heinemann Ltd. 1925.
PLUTARCH, Lives:
Lives volumes 1 and 2; translated by B. Perrin. London: W. Heinemann. 1914 and 1948.
PSEUDO-XENOPHON, Constitution of the Athenians:
The Old Oligarch: Pseudo-Xenophon’s ‘Constitution of the Athenians’ 2nd ed. with introduction, translation and commentary by R. Osborne. London: London Association of Classical Teachers. 2004.
SCHOLIA ON ARISTOPHANES:
Scholia Graeca in Aristophanem, cum prolegomenis grammaticorum, varietate lectionis optimorum codicum integra, ceterorum selecta, annotatione criticorum item selecta, cui sua quaedam inseruit
edited by F. Dübner. Paris: Firmin Didot. 1842.
SENECA THE ELDER:
L. Annaei Senecae ludus de morte Claudii, Epigrammata super exilio; edited by F. Haase. Lipsiae: in aedibus B.G. Teubneri. 1902.
XENOPHON, Memorabilia; Oeconomicus; Symposium; Apology:
Memorabilia; Oeconomicus; Symposium; Apology; translated by E. C. Marchant and O. J. Todd. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: Heinemann. 1923.
Translations and Commentaries
AESCHINES
Aeschines:
Davidson, J. (2007) The Greeks and Greek love: a radical reappraisal of homosexuality in Ancient Greece. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson.
Aeschines, Against Timarchus:
Fisher, N. (2001) Aeschines. Against Timarchus. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
AESCHYLUS
Aeschylus, Eumenides:
Morshead, E. D. A., from The Internet Classics Archive: http://classics.mit.edu/Aeschylus/eumendides.html
Vellacott, P. (1956) The Oresteian trilogy: Agamemnon, The Choephori, The Eumenides. Harmondsworth: Penguin.
Aeschylus, The Persians:
Smyth, H. W. (1973) Aeschylus. Vol. I. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Loeb Classical Library [LCL].
Vellacott, P. (1961) Aeschylus. Prometheus bound; The Suppliants; Seven against Thebes; The Persians. Harmondsworth: Penguin.
ANDOCIDES
Andocides, Against Alcibiades:
Maidment, K. J. (1941) Minor Attic Orators. Vol I. London: W. Heinemann. LCL.
ARISTOPHANES
Aristophanes, Acharnians:
Allen, D. (1996) –A Schedule of Boundaries: An Exploration, launched from the Water-Clock, of Athenian Time’ in Greece and Rome 43.
Henry, M. M. (1995) Prisoner of history: Aspasia of Miletus and her biographical tradition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Aristophanes, Birds:
Henderson, J. (2000) Birds. Lysistrata. Women at the Thesmophoria. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. LCL.
Rogers, B. B. (1930) The Birds of Aristophanes: the Greek text revised, with a translation into corresponding metres, introduction and commentary. London: Bell.
Sommerstein, A. H. (1987) Aristophanes: Birds. Warminster: Aris and Phillips.
Aristophanes, Clouds:
McLeish, K. (1979) Aristophanes. Clouds. Women in Power. Knights. Cambridge: University of Cambridge Press.
Sommerstein, A. H. (1973) Aristophanes. Lysistrata. The Acharnians. The Clouds. London: Penguin.
Aristophanes, Ecclesiazusae, Peac and Wasps:
O’Neill Jr, E. (1938) Aristophanes. The Complete Greek drama. Vol. 2. New York: Random House.
Aristophanes, Frogs:
Barrett, D. (1964) Aristophanes. The Frogs and other plays. Harmondsworth: Penguin.
Henderson, J. (2008) Aristophanes: Frogs. Newburyport, MA: Focus Publishing/R Pullins and Co.
Murray, G. (1908) The Frogs of Aristophanes. London: George Allen & Unwin.
Theodoridis, G. http://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/Greek/FrogsActIISceneIII.htm
ARISTOTLE
Aristotle, Athenian Constitution:
Rhodes, P. J. (1984) Aristotle. The Athenian Constitution. London: Penguin.
Aristotle, Politics:
Barnes, J. in S. Everson (ed.) (1996) Aristotle. The Politics and the Constitution of Athens. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Sinclair, T. A., revised by T. J. Saunders (1981) Aristotle. The Politics. Harmondsworth: Penguin.
Aristotle, Rhetoric:
Lawson-Tancred, H. C. (1991) Aristotle. The Art of Rhetoric. London: Penguin.
AULUS GELLIUS
Aulus Gellius, Attic Nights:
J. C. Rolfe (1927) The Attic Nights of Aulus Gellius. London: W. Heinemann; Cambridge, MA: Havard University Press. LCL.
AXIOCHUS
Axiochus:
Hershbell, J. P. in J. M. Cooper (ed.) (1997) Complete works / Plato. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing.
CENSORINUS
Censorinus, De Die Natali:
Parker, H. N. (2007) The Birthday Book; Censorinus. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
CRATINUS
Cratinus, Cheirons:
Henry, M. M. (1995) Prisoner of History: Aspasia of Miletus and her Biographical Tradition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
DIOGENES LAERTIUS
Diogenes Laertius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers:
Hicks, R. D. (1925) Lives of Eminent Philosophers. Cambridge, MA: University of Harvard Press. LCL.
Munn, M. (2000) The School of History. Athens in the Age of Socrates. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Yonge, C. D. (1853) The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers by Diogenes Laertius. London: Henry G. Bohn.
EURIPIDES
Euripides, Hecuba:
Coleridge, E. P. in W. J. Oates and E. O’Neill Jr (eds.) (1938) Euripides. The Complete Greek Drama in two volumes. Vol. I. Hecuba. New York: Random House.
Euripides, Hippolytus:
Kovacs, D. (1995) Children of Heracles. Hippolytus. Andromache. Hecuba. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. LCL.
Vellacott, P. (1953) Three plays: Hippolytus, Iphigenia in Tauris, Alcestis. Euripides. Harmondsworth: Penguin.
Euripides, Orestes:
Blundell, S. (1995) Women in Ancient Greece. London: British Museum Press.
Euripides, Phoenician Women:
Murray, G. (1913) Euripides. Euripidis Fabulae. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Perseus Trans.].
Wilson, A. See website: http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~loxias/phoenissae.htm
Euripides, The Suppliant Women:
Vellacott, P. (1972) Euripides. Orestes and Other Plays. Harmondsworth: Penguin.
Euripides, Women of Troy:
Vellacott, P. (1973) The Bacchae and Other Plays. Euripides. Harmondsworth: Penguin.
GORGIAS
Gorgias, Helen:
Sprague, R. K. (ed.) (2001) The Older Sophists. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing.
HERODOTUS
Herodotus:
De Sélincourt, A. (1954) The Histories. Herodotus. Harmondsworth: Penguin.
Godley, A. D. (1920) The Persian Wars. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. LCL.
Purvis, A. (2007) in R. B. Strassler, The Landmark Herodotus: The Histories. New York: Pantheon.
HESIOD
Hesiod, Works and Days:
Evelyn-White, H. G. (1914) Hesiod, Homeric Hymns and Homerica. London: Heinemann.
Most, G. W. (2006) Hesiod. Theogony. Works and Days. Testimonia. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. LCL.
Tandy, D. W. and Neale, W. C. (1996) Hesiod’s Works and Days. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.
Wender, D. (1973) Hesiod. Theogony. Works and Days. Theognis. Elegies. London: Penguin.
HOMER
Homer, Iliad:
Butler, S. [Perseus edition – http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0134].
ISOCRATES
Isocrates, Address to the Areopagus:
Mirhady, D. C. and Yun Lee Too (2000) Isocrates Vol. I. Austin: University of Texas Press.
Norlin, G. (1980) Isocrates. Vol. 2. Cambridge, MA: Havard University Press. LCL.
LYSIAS
Lysias, Simon:
Lamb, W. R. M. (1930) Lysias. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. LCL.
Todd, L. S. (2000) Lysias. Austin: University of Texas Press.
PINDAR
Pindar, Nemean Odes:
Lattimore, R. (1959) The Odes of Pindar. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Pindar, Pythian Odes:
Gildersleeve, B. L. (1890) Pindar. The Olympian and Pythian Odes. London: Macmillan.
PLATO
Plato, Alcibiades I:
Hutchinson, D. S. in J. M. Cooper (ed.) (1997) Complete works / Plato. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing.
Lamb, W. R. M. (1927) Plato. Charmides. Alcibiades I and II. Hipparchus. The Lovers. Theages. Minos. Epinomis. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. LCL.
Plato, Apology:
Brickhouse, T. C. and N. D. Smith (2002) The Trial and Execution of Socrates. Sources and Controversies. Oxford: Oxford University Press.