THE LIFE OF PLATO ACCORDING TO DIOGENES LAERTIUS.

THE LIFE OF PLATO BY THE AUTHOR DIOGENES LAERTIUS.

Plato, the son of Ariston and Perictione (or Potone), was an Athenian. His mother traced her lineage back to Solon Solon was the famous Athenian lawmaker and poet, considered one of the Seven Sages of Greece.. For Solon had a brother named Dropides, who was the father of Critias, who was the father of Callaeschrus; he in turn was the father of Critias—one of the Thirty Tyrants The "Thirty Tyrants" were a pro-Spartan oligarchy that ruled Athens after the Peloponnesian War.—and of Glaucon. From Glaucon were born Charmides and Perictione, and from her and Ariston, Plato was born, being the sixth in descent from Solon. Furthermore, Solon traced his own descent back to Neleus and Neptune original: "Ποσειδῶνα" (Poseidon). The Latin uses "Neptunum." Both refer to the god of the sea.. They say his father Ariston also traced his origin back to Codrus, the son of Melanthus, who are likewise recorded as descending from Neptune, according to the testimony of Thrasyllus. Indeed, Speusippus in his book entitled Plato’s Funeral Banquet, as well as Clearchus in his Encomium of Plato, and Anaxilides in his second book On Philosophers, all claim there was a rumor in Athens that Ariston attempted to force himself upon Perictione, who was then in the flower of her beauty, but his attempts were in vain. He then saw a vision of Apollo in a dream, and because of this, he kept his wife pure from the marriage bed until she had given birth.

Thus Plato was born (as Apollodorus records in his Chronicles) in the 88th Olympiad An Olympiad is a four-year period; the 88th began in 428 BCE., on the seventh day of the month Thargelion An Attic month corresponding to May/June; the seventh day was also celebrated as the birthday of the god Apollo., the very day on which the people of Delos say Apollo himself was born. He died (according to Hermippus) during a wedding feast in the first year of the 108th Olympiad, having lived eighty-one years. Neanthes, however, writes that he was eighty-four when he passed away. He was therefore six years younger than Isocrates A famous Athenian orator.. Isocrates was born during the archonship of Lysimachus, while Plato was born under Aminias, the same year in which Pericles died. He belonged to the deme A "deme" was a local administrative district or suburb of Athens. of Collytus, as Antileon reports in his second book On Times. Some say he was born in Aegina, in the house of Phidiades, the son of Thales (as Favorinus says in his Universal History), because his father had been sent there with others as a colonist term: "κληρούχου" (klerouchos) / "sortiretur" (allotment). A system where Athenian citizens were granted land in conquered territories. and returned to Athens when they were expelled by the Lacedaemonians Spartans. who had come to help the Aeginetans. He also sponsored magnificent games in Athens, with Dion providing the funds, as Athenodorus says in the eighth book of his Peripatetics. He had two brothers, Adeimantus and Glaucon, and a sister, Potone, who was the mother of Speusippus. He was educated in letters under Dionysius, whom he mentions in his dialogue The Lovers. He also trained in gymnastics under Ariston, the wrestler from Argos; it was from him that he received the name "Plato" because of his excellent physical condition note: The name "Plato" (Πλάτων) is derived from the Greek word "platus," meaning "broad," referring to his broad shoulders or chest., whereas he had previously been named Aristocles after his grandfather, as

Plato was born in Athens to his father Ariston and his mother Perictione (or Potone). His mother traced her lineage from Solon. Indeed, Solon’s brother Dropides fathered Critias, whose son was Callaeschrus; to him was born the son Critias, who was one of the Thirty, and also Glaucon. From Glaucon were born Charmides and Perictione, and from her and Ariston, Plato was born, the sixth in descent from Solon. Furthermore, Solon refers his lineage back to Neleus and Neptune. They also record that Ariston, the father, traced his origin from Codrus, the son of Melanthus, who are likewise remembered to draw their blood from Neptune, as Thrasyllus bears witness. Truly, Speusippus in the book titled Plato’s Banquet, and Clearchus in his Praise of Plato, and Anaxilides in the second book of On Philosophers, assert that there is a rumor in Athens that Ariston attempted to use force upon Perictione when she was most beautiful, but his attempts were frustrated, and he saw Apollo in his sleep; and because of this, he kept his wife pure from the marriage bond until she gave birth.

Plato was born (as Apollodorus witnesses in his Chronicles) in the 88th Olympiad, on the seventh of Thargelion, on which day the Delians declare Apollo was born. He died (as Hermippus relates) in the first year of the 108th Olympiad, while reclining at a wedding feast, passing away in the eighty-first year of his life. Neanthes writes that he died having lived eighty-four years. He is therefore younger than Isocrates by six years. For that man was born under Lysimachus, while Plato was born under Aminias, under whom Pericles also met his end. His family was from the deme of Collytus, as Antileon relates in the second book of On Times. He was born, according to some, in Aegina, in the house of Phidiades, he who was the son of Thales, as Favorinus says in his Universal History, since his father was sent with others to be allotted land, and returned to Athens when they were driven out by the Lacedaemonians who had brought aid to the Aeginetans. He also put on magnificent games in Athens, with Dion supplying the costs, as Athenodorus says in the eighth book of the Peripatetics. He had brothers, Adeimantus and Glaucon, and a sister, Potone, from whom Speusippus was born. He learned letters under Dionysius, whom he also mentions in The Lovers. He was also trained by Ariston of Argos, the wrestler, by whom he was surnamed "Plato" on account of his remarkable physical habit, whereas previously he had been called by the name of his grandfather, Aristocles, as Alexander relates in his Successions. There are some who, because of the breadth of his face— The text cuts off mid-sentence, a common feature in early printed books where a "catchword" at the bottom of the page indicates the start of the next page.