The Hemlock Cup - Bettany Hughes [219]
7 Luis E. Navia concludes his scholarly work, Antisthenes of Athens; Setting the World Aright (2001), with a pseudo-Dialogue of Simon.
8 Recent scholarship puts his dates at 450–410 BC. See Sellars, n.6, above.
9 Socrates’ divine voice is held responsible for this prescient change of tack. The hand of God is questionable; but the local colour is spot-on.
10 In the fifth century BC, chance meetings with friends or strangers were also thought to augur the future. This was a view to which Socrates subscribed – although adding his own idiosyncratic interpretation. ‘However, while some name what forewarns them “birds”, “voices”, “omens” or “prophets”, I call this a “divinity” [daimonion], and I think by naming it thus, I speak more truthfully and more piously than those who attribute the power of gods to the birds. Indeed, I have the following proof that I do not speak falsely concerning the god; for, though I told the advice of the god to many friends, never once was I shown to have spoken falsely.’ Xenophon, Apology, 13. Trans. J. A. Martinez (2002). ‘And yet most people say that they are “warned away” or “encouraged” by the birds and the chance meetings; and Socrates expressed it in the way he knew: he said that “the divinity signalled”.’ Xenophon, Memorabilia, 1.1.4. Trans. J. Fogel (2002).
11 Cf. Zaidman, Pantel and Cartledge (1991), 55.
12 Diogenes Laertius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers, Democritus, 9.44–5.
13 Plato’s aim here was to ‘prove’, in hindsight, that Socrates was not a sophist.
14 Plato, Euthyphro, 3d. Trans. H. N. Fowler (1914) [adapt.] [LCL].
15 Frag. 12 Kock (Giannantoni I A2).
16 The precise location of the prison is still disputed. The marble-chippings on the floor of the ‘prison-house’ could either be the result of artisans dispatching the culture of Athens or rough flooring for its troublemakers.
17 Plato, Crito, 52b.
18 Sophocles died a few months after Euripides in 406 BC (cf. Aristophanes, Frogs, 82). In his last competition at the Dionysia he dressed his chorus and actors in mourning for the death of his fellow playwright. Cf. OCD (3rd edn.), 1422–3.
19 Only Plato remained, a self-proclaimed member of Socrates’ circle (Apology, 34a) and listed with Crito, Critobulus and Apollodorus as offering to pay the fine of thirty minas proposed by Socrates in lieu of the death penalty (Apology, 38b). Plato himself would be (briefly) sold into slavery, and Aristotle (originally from Stageira) would be driven from Athens to die in exile.
CHAPTER FOUR
The Stoa of the King
1 Plato, Euthyphro, 1b–c.
2 This explains why – thanks to translation issues – in some medieval Arabic texts it was asserted that Socrates was killed by a king. The King Archon’s role was to hear indictments and set in motion the business of justice.
3 Isocrates, Address to the Areopagus, 30.
4 Demosthenes, First Philippic, 35.
5 Here too were said to be the pronouncements of the law-giver Draco – the Athenian whom we still commemorate with our word ‘draconian’.
6 Again, see the American School at Athens’ excellent publications and website on the excavations of the Agora.
7 Plato, Euthyphro, 1c.
8 Although Anytus was a relatively well-to-do merchant and does play a minor part in the political history of the period.
9 Zeus replies to Hermes, Plato, Protagoras, 322d.
10 Plato, Euthyphro, 2d–3a. Trans. Brickhouse and Smith (2002).
11 Diogenes Laertius, The Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers, 2.21. Trans. C. D. Yonge (1853).
12 Plato, Apology, 29d–30a. Trans. B. Jowett (1953).
13 Plato, Crito, 52c.
14 Socrates did not ‘plead guilty’, but he accepted that within the legal framework of Athens his charges could be brought before a court.
15 Plato, Theaetetus, 210d; see also Plato, Statesman, which ends with a discussion of courage.
16 See Stroud (1998).
17 See also Aristophanes, Clouds, 770; Wasps, 349; Isocrates, 15.237; Demosthenes, Against Midias, 103. Also Stroud (1998), Sickinger (2004).
18 The monument is mentioned in Aristophanes, Peace, 1183