The Symposium

In this lively ancient dialogue, a festive banquet in the house of Callias becomes the backdrop for a spirited gathering of Socrates and his companions. The evening begins with the arrival of the celebrated youth Autolycus, fresh from triumph in the Panathenaic games, and his father, Lycon. As wine flows and the conversation turns to the nature of wisdom, Callias challenges his guests, eager to prove his own worth among the philosophers.

The discussion quickly reveals the distinct personalities of the attendees—Critobulus, Hermogenes, Antisthenes, and Charmides—each offering sharp, witty remarks that blend serious inquiry with playful banter. Socrates, ever the inquisitor, teases Callias about his pretensions while probing deeper questions about virtue and knowledge. Listeners are invited into an intimate glimpse of Athenian intellectual life, where philosophy is as much a social sport as a serious pursuit.