The Complete Works of the Divine Plato

Favorinus A Roman-era historian and orator known for his "Miscellaneous History." says that while Plato was reading his book On the Soul original: "De anima" (Latin), "περὶ ψυχῆς" (Greek); this refers to the dialogue Phaedo., all those who were sitting with him rose and left, except for Aristotle. Most authors assert that Philip of Opus A student of Plato and member of the Academy. transcribed Plato's Laws, which were originally written on wax tablets; they also say the Epinomis is his work. Euphorion and Panaetius have said that the beginning of the books of the Republic was found many times rearranged and altered. Aristoxenus asserts that almost the entirety of the Republic was written based on the contradictory arguments of Protagoras. There is a report that he wrote the Phaedrus first, for its subject matter has something youthful about it. Furthermore, Dicaearchus criticizes that entire style of writing as being heavy and annoying.

They relate that when Plato saw someone playing with dice, he rebuked him. When the man said, "Why do you find fault with me for such a small thing?" Plato replied, "But habit is no small thing." When asked if his monuments Here meaning his written works or his fame. would be like those of his predecessors, he said, "First, it is necessary to make a name; then, much will be advanced." Once, when Xenocrates One of Plato's most devoted students and his eventual successor at the Academy. came in, he said to him, "Beat this boy; for I myself cannot, because I am angry." Likewise, he said to one of his servants, "You would have been thrashed by now, if I were not angry." Having mounted a horse, he immediately dismounted, saying he feared he might be carried away by the horse's "high-mindedness" The Latin "ferocitate" suggests fierceness, while the Greek "ἱπποτυφίᾳ" is a play on "typhos" (vanity/pride), suggesting the horse's arrogance might infect him.. He used to advise those who were drunk to look at themselves intently in a mirror, so that they might be deterred by such ugliness. He warned that it was never proper to drink to the point of drunkenness, except on the festival days of the god who gives wine Dionysus.. Excessive sleep also displeased him. Indeed, in the Laws he says, "A man who is sleeping is worth nothing." He thought truth was sweeter to hear than anything else that could be said; others think he said that speaking the truth is the most pleasant of all things. Thus he spoke of truth in the Laws: "Truth is a noble thing, O guest, and durable; but it seems not easy to persuade people of it." He wished, moreover, for the memory of himself to be left either among friends or in books. He himself made much use of places Likely referring to the use of "topoi" or commonplaces in rhetorical and philosophical memory..

He died in the manner we have described, in the thirteenth year of King Philip's reign, as Favorinus reports in the third book of his Commentaries; Theopompus is the authority who says Plato was also criticized by him. Myronianus, in his Similarities, says that Philo mentions a proverb about Plato’s lice A common ancient trope that great thinkers died of phthiriasis (infestation of lice), though this is likely legendary., as if he had wasted away in that manner. He was buried in the Academy, where he had spent the greatest part of his time philosophizing. From this, the sect that flowed from him was called "Academic." His body was carried out honorably and buried by those who had gathered there. This was his will.

"Plato has bequeathed and left these things. The estate in Hephaestiadae A district or "deme" of ancient Athens., which is bordered on the north by the road leading from the temple of the Cephisiadae, on the south by the sanctuary of Heracles in Hephaestiadae, on the east by Archestratus of Phrearrhii, and on the west by Philip of Cholidae. It shall not be permitted for anyone to sell or alienate this, but it shall belong to the boy Adeimantus Likely a young relative, perhaps a grand-nephew or adopted heir, named after Plato's brother. as far as possible. Also the estate in Eresiadae which I bought from Callimachus, which is bordered on the north by Eurymedon of Myrrhinus, on the south by Demostratus of Xypete, on the east by Eurymedon of Myrrhinus, and on the west by the Cephissus River. Three minas A unit of weight and currency; 1 mina was equal to 100 drachmas. of silver; a silver bowl weighing 165 drachmas A standard silver coin and weight.; a cup weighing 45 drachmas; a gold ring and a gold earring, both together weighing four drachmas and three obols A small denomination; 6 obols made 1 drachma.. Euclides the stonecutter owes me three minas. I set Diana The Greek text uses "Artemis"; this was the slave's name. free. I leave as servants Tychon, Bicta, Apolloniades, and Dionysius. Also the furniture and inscribed vessels, of which Demetrius has the list. I owe nothing to anyone. The executors shall be Sosthenes, Speusippus, Demetrius, Hegias, Eurymedon, Callimachus, and Thrasippus."

Favorinus says somewhere that while Plato was reading the one On the Soul, all the others stood up and left. Some say that Philip of Opus transcribed the Laws for him, which were on wax; they say the Epinomis is also by this man. Euphorion and Panaetius have said that the beginning of the Republic was found frequently turned about—the same Republic which Aristoxenus says was almost entirely written within the Antilogies of Protagoras. There is a story that the Phaedrus was written first. Indeed, the subject has something of the youth about it. Dicaearchus even blames the entire manner of the writing as being vulgar. At any rate, Plato is said to have rebuked a certain man he saw playing at dice, and when the man said it was over a small matter, he said, "But the habit is not small." When asked if there would ever be memoirs of him as there were of those before him, he answered, "One must first obtain a name, and then there will be many." Once, when Xenocrates entered, he said, "Whip the boy," for he said he could not do it himself because he was angry. But also to one of his boys he said, "You would have been whipped if I were not being angry." Having sat upon a horse, he immediately got down, saying he was cautious lest he be seized by "horse-stupor" original: "ἱπποτυφίᾳ" (hippotyphia); a pun on horse-riding and the "typhos" or smoky vanity of the soul.. He advised those who were drunk to look in a mirror; for they would be deterred by the hideousness of their unseemliness. He said drinking to drunkenness was nowhere fitting, except in the festivals of the god who gave the fruit of wine. And much sleeping also displeased him. In the Laws at least he says, "No one when sleeping is worth anything." Furthermore, he said the sweetest of things to hear is the truth; others say, to speak the truth. And regarding truth in the Laws he says thus: "Truth is a beautiful thing, O stranger, and lasting; but it seems not easy to persuade men of it." But he also deemed it worthy that a memorial of himself be left either in friends or in books. He himself was also wont to expunge most things, as some say. And he died in the manner we said, in the thirteenth year of Philip's reign, as Favorinus also says in the third book of his Memoirs; by whom Theopompus says he was also rebuked. Myronianus in his Similarities says Philo mentions a proverb about Plato’s lice, as if he died in that way. And he was buried in the Academy, where he spent the most time philosophizing. From this, the sect from him was called Academic. And he was escorted by the whole people of the place, having set out his affairs in this manner.

"These things Plato left and disposed of: The farm in Hephaestiadae, to which the neighbor on the north is the road from the temple at Cephisia, on the south the Heracleum in Hephaestiadae; toward the rising sun Archestratus of Phrearrhii, toward the setting sun Philip of Cholidae. And let it not be permitted for anyone either to sell this or to exchange it, but let it be the boy Adeimantus's as far as possible. And the farm in Eresiadae, which I bought from Callimachus, to which the neighbor on the north is Eurymedon of Myrrhinus; on the south Demostratus of Xypete; toward the rising sun Eurymedon of Myrrhinus, toward the setting sun the Cephissus. Three minas of silver; a silver bowl weighing 165; a cup weighing 45. A gold ring and a gold earring, both together weighing four drachmas and three obols. Euclides the stonecutter owes me three minas. I set Artemis free. I leave as household servants Tychon, Bicta, Apolloniades, Dionysius; the vessels that have been listed, of which Demetrius has the copies. I owe nothing to anyone. The executors are Sosthenes, Speusippus, Demetrius, Hegias, Eurymedon, Callimachus, and Theosippus The Latin text records this name as "Thrasippus."."