Συμπόσιον : ή περί έρωτος

The dialogue opens at a celebratory banquet in Athens, held the night after a dramatic victory. A group of familiar faces—Socrates, Phaedrus, Pausanias, Aristophanes, and the physician Eryximachus—gather while the wine has drained, agreeing to discuss love without the cloud of intoxication. The conversation is recounted by Apollodorus, who conveys the remarks he heard from his absent friend.

Each guest presents a distinct view of Eros, ranging from the youthful idealism of Phaedrus to the more scholarly distinctions offered by Pausanias and Eryximachus. Their speeches weave myth, medicine, music and seasonal cycles into a broader picture of love as a harmonizing force that links body, soul and the cosmos. The dialogue captures the lively back‑and‑forth that makes ancient philosophy feel both intimate and timeless.