The Symposium

Xenophon's account of a drinking party is often overshadowed by Plato's treatment of the same occasion, and it has gone without a full English commentary for more than a century. Its value lies both in its Greek and in its content. Xenophon, an Athenian who knew Socrates, presents the philosopher as a figure in his own right, not simply as the version Plato handed down, offering a rare second surviving portrait. The dialogue also gives a lively, witty picture of male social life in classical Athens, which is one of the best-documented societies of the ancient world.

This edition is aimed at students who have finished a beginners' Greek course and want to move on to more demanding texts. Xenophon's prose is clear and direct, so it serves as a bridge between introductory exercises and more elaborate authors. The editor has taught with the text for years, and the edition reflects that, with substantial linguistic help, a large vocabulary and the content notes typical of the series.