Books like Συμπόσιον by Πλάτων

Plato’s Symposium is one of the most celebrated works of Western literature, set at a dinner party in Athens in 416 B.C. The participants—sociable philosopher Socrates, comic poet Aristophanes, and the influential Alcibiades—engage in lively discussions about the nature of eros, exploring both earthly and sublime forms. The dialogue culminates with Socrates’ famous "ladder of love," an extended analysis of the many levels of affection. The evening ends with Alcibiades, intoxicated, offering a vivid portrait of Socrates that celebrates the philosopher rather than love itself. This Modern Library edition presents the authoritative translation by Benjamin Jowett, revised by Dr. Hayden Pelliccia to reflect recent scholarship and to update archaic Victorian English, preserving the integrity of both Jowett’s prose and Plato’s original text.

First publish date: April 30, 1996