Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
Discussion about Plato’s Socrates. The story in the Phaedo leaves room for us to think that Socrates may have had a brief private conversation with his wife, Xanthippe, before she was taken away from the scene. Do you think we can guess what words might have been exchanged? And based on Plato’s Apology, does Socrates like Odysseus? Topics include: Socrates’ reading of the Iliad. What conversations might he imagine having in the underworld? Odysseus’ interviews in the underworld. The ongoing story of Odysseus and the prophecy of Teiresias. Menelaos and Helen and their cults in Sparta. The ongoing philosophical dialogue of Socrates. The changing truths of Achilles and of Odysseus in the epics.
Mentioned in the discussion:
Nagy, G. 2015.03.27. “The last words of Socrates at the place where he died.” Classical Inquiries. https://classical-inquiries.chs.harvard.edu/the-last-words-of-socrates-at-the-place-where-he-died/
Recorded in Spring 2017 during v7 of the MOOC, The Ancient Greek Hero in 24 Hours, focusing on Hours 22 and 23, and responses to the Discussion Questions.
With Gregory Nagy, Keith Stone, and members of the HeroesX Team, and contributions off-camera from Greg’s wife Olga Davidson (“Holly”).
Discussion about Plato’s Socrates. The story in the Phaedo leaves room for us to think that Socrates may have had a brief private conversation with his wife, Xanthippe, before she was taken away from the scene. Do you think we can guess what words might have been exchanged? And based on Plato’s Apology, does Socrates like Odysseus? Topics include: Socrates’ reading of the Iliad. What conversations might he imagine having in the underworld? Odysseus’ interviews in the underworld. The ongoing story of Odysseus and the prophecy of Teiresias. Menelaos and Helen and their cults in Sparta. The ongoing philosophical dialogue of Socrates. The changing truths of Achilles and of Odysseus in the epics.
Mentioned in the discussion:
Nagy, G. 2015.03.27. “The last words of Socrates at the place where he died.” Classical Inquiries. https://classical-inquiries.chs.harvard.edu/the-last-words-of-socrates-at-the-place-where-he-died/
Recorded in Spring 2017 during v7 of the MOOC, The Ancient Greek Hero in 24 Hours, focusing on Hours 22 and 23, and responses to the Discussion Questions.
With Gregory Nagy, Keith Stone, and members of the HeroesX Team, and contributions off-camera from Greg’s wife Olga Davidson (“Holly”).
