The son of the physician Acumenus, Eryximachus was born in the mid-5th century BC. Set approximately in 433/2, Plato's Protagoras dialogue includes a depiction of his close friendship with Socrates' student Phaedrus, a friendship that continued into the dramatic time of the Phaedrus dialogue some 15 years later. His wealth and social status are unclear from the extant sources.[3]
An Eryximachus is mentioned in Andocides' On the Mysteries speech as among those indicted in the mutilation of the herms and profanation of the Eleusinian mysteries, two tumultuous events on the eve of the ill-fated Sicilian Expedition in 415.[4] While there is no clear confirmation that this Eryximachus is the physician, there are numerous pieces of circumstantial evidence, including Phaedrus' role and Eryximachus' appearance in Plato's Symposium alongside others involved in these incidents.[3] It is unclear whether he was among those executed because of the event, but the historical record lacks later references to him.[3]
In Platoedit
While he is present silently in the Protagoras[5] and receives mention in the Phaedrus,[6] his most significant appearance in Plato's writing comes in the Symposium. Here he instigates and contributes to the event's extended discourse on the god Eros and the phenomena associated with this god. In his speech, he uses the language of his doctor's craft to describe love in bodily terms. While some have dismissed his Platonic character as arrogant, pedantic, and a figure of comedic fun,[7][8] others have argued for his role as a serious contributor to the discourse,[9] or even attributed traditional Platonic philosophical values to his medical arguments.[10]
^James Lesher, "Feuerbach's Das Gastmahl des Platon and Plato's Symposium" in P. Castillo, S. Knippschild, M. G. Morcillo, and C. Herreros, eds., International Conference: Imagines: The reception of antiquity in performing and visual arts (Logroño: Universidad de La Rioja, 2008), 479–490.
^ abcdDebra Nails, The People of Plato, Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing, 2002; pp. 134–135
^Mark J. Lutz, Socrates' Education to Virtue: Learning the Love of the Noble, Albany: SUNY Press, 1998
^Ludwig Edelstein, "The Role of Eryximachus in Plato's Symposium", Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association Vol. 76, (1945), pp. 85-103
^Ronald Ross, "A Doctor and a Scholar: Rethinking the Philosophic Significance of Eryximachus in the Symposium", Stance, Vol. 2, April 2009
April 09, 2024
eryximachus, acumenus, greek, Ἐρυξίμαχος, Ἀκουμένου, eruxímachos, akouménou, late, century, early, century, ancient, athenian, physician, best, remembered, prominent, role, plato, symposium, likely, that, indicted, mutilation, herms, domestic, athenian, confli. Eryximachus son of Acumenus ɪ ˈ r ɪ k s ɪ ˌ m ae k e s Greek Ἐry3imaxos Ἀkoymenoy Eruximachos Akoumenou c 448 late 5th century or early 4th century BCE was an ancient Athenian physician who is best remembered for his prominent role in Plato s Symposium It is likely that he was indicted in the mutilation of the herms a domestic Athenian conflict during the Peloponnesian War 3 The figure center from Anselm Feuerbach s The Banquet After Plato interpreted as a depiction of Eryximachus 1 2 Contents 1 Life 2 In Plato 3 See also 4 ReferencesLife editThe son of the physician Acumenus Eryximachus was born in the mid 5th century BC Set approximately in 433 2 Plato s Protagoras dialogue includes a depiction of his close friendship with Socrates student Phaedrus a friendship that continued into the dramatic time of the Phaedrus dialogue some 15 years later His wealth and social status are unclear from the extant sources 3 An Eryximachus is mentioned in Andocides On the Mysteries speech as among those indicted in the mutilation of the herms and profanation of the Eleusinian mysteries two tumultuous events on the eve of the ill fated Sicilian Expedition in 415 4 While there is no clear confirmation that this Eryximachus is the physician there are numerous pieces of circumstantial evidence including Phaedrus role and Eryximachus appearance in Plato s Symposium alongside others involved in these incidents 3 It is unclear whether he was among those executed because of the event but the historical record lacks later references to him 3 In Plato editWhile he is present silently in the Protagoras 5 and receives mention in the Phaedrus 6 his most significant appearance in Plato s writing comes in the Symposium Here he instigates and contributes to the event s extended discourse on the god Eros and the phenomena associated with this god In his speech he uses the language of his doctor s craft to describe love in bodily terms While some have dismissed his Platonic character as arrogant pedantic and a figure of comedic fun 7 8 others have argued for his role as a serious contributor to the discourse 9 or even attributed traditional Platonic philosophical values to his medical arguments 10 See also editList of speakers in Plato s dialoguesReferences edit Heinrich Meier in Seth Benardete Plato s Symposium 1994 James Lesher Feuerbach s Das Gastmahl des Platon and Plato s Symposium in P Castillo S Knippschild M G Morcillo and C Herreros eds International Conference Imagines The reception of antiquity in performing and visual arts Logrono Universidad de La Rioja 2008 479 490 a b c d Debra Nails The People of Plato Indianapolis Hackett Publishing 2002 pp 134 135 Andocides On the Mysteries 1 35 Plato Protagoras 315c Plato Phaedrus 268a Ulrich von Wilamowitz Moellendorff Platon 1 Berlin 1929 Mark J Lutz Socrates Education to Virtue Learning the Love of the Noble Albany SUNY Press 1998 Ludwig Edelstein The Role of Eryximachus in Plato s Symposium Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association Vol 76 1945 pp 85 103 Ronald Ross A Doctor and a Scholar Rethinking the Philosophic Significance of Eryximachus in the Symposium Stance Vol 2 April 2009 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Eryximachus amp oldid 1176941802, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
