Plato Phaedrus Translation

[Dawnell Sechler]

Thiswebsite exhibits the fruits of a project, commenced in 2008, to translate the complete works of Plato from the original Greek into English. This project is supported by the Foundation for Platonic Studies.

We welcome your feedback on this new translation, which is still being finalised. You can highlight text on any page to quickly send feedback about the work (may not work on all devices). You can also send feedback to comm...@platonicfoundation.org.

[6] According to legend, Boreas, the god of the cold north wind, kidnapped the Athenian princess Orithyia as she played with nymphs on the banks of the Ilissus, a river outside the walls of Athens, to the east.

[7] Typho, a giant monster, one of deadliest creatures in Greek mythology. His complexity stems from his 100 heads and his multiform physique, comprised of a humanoid winged torso atop two snake-tail legs.

[8] Achelous was a river god, personified as water and associated with the river of the same name, the longest in Greece. Nymphs were minor deities associated with different aspects of the natural world.

[9] Sappho and Anacreon were lyric poets, both included among the canonical Nine Lyric Poets of ancient Greece. Sappho was regarded as one of the greatest lyric poets; Anaceron was noted for his drinking songs and erotic poetry.

[10] The Nine Archons were officials of the city of Athens, chosen by lot. Their oath of office stipulated that they would undertake to erect a golden statue as a penalty if they transgressed any of the laws.

[11] The Cypselid dynasty ruled over Corinth during its golden age. A chest in which the baby Cypselus, founder of the dynasty, was said to have been hidden by his mother to protect him from assassins was housed as a votive offering at Olympia.

[15] Stesichorus was a lyric poet who was counted among the Nine Lyric Poets of ancient Greece. According to legend he was blinded, and then had his sight restored, for composing first critical, then laudatory poems about Helen of Troy.

[29] Nestor and Odysseus are Homeric heroes who are particularly skillful orators. Palamedes, though not mentioned by Homer, was noted for his guile, especially in successfully convincing Odysseus to join the Trojan expedition.

[53] Gardens of Adonis were small containers in which devotees would force plants (lettuce and fennel) to sprout briefly and then die in order to commemorate the death of Adonis, the consort of Aphrodite.

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