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{{Short description|Athenian and chief accuser of Socrates}} |
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The ''[[Apology (Plato)|Apology of Socrates]]'' by [[Plato]] names '''Meletus''' as the chief accuser of [[Socrates]].For 'de-wanging' statues of hermes. He is also mentioned in the [[Euthyphro]]. Given his awkwardness as an orator, and his likely age at the time of Socrates' death, many hold that he was not the real leader of the movement against the early philosopher, but rather was simply the spokesman for a group led by [[Anytus]]. |
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'''Meletus''' ({{langx|grc| Μέλητος}}; fl. 5th–4th century BCE), a citizen of [[Classical Athens| Athens in the Classical Era]], came from the [[Pithus]] [[deme]] and has become known for his prosecuting role in the [[trial of Socrates | trial]] - and eventual execution - of the [[philosophy| philosopher]] [[Socrates]] in 399 BCE. |
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==Life== |
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Meletus was probably a poet by trade and likely a religious fanatic who was more concerned with allegations of impiety than with the charges of corruption that were lodged against Socrates. Some believe Meletus was motivated primarily by the reports that Socrates had embarrassed the poets (in Plato's [[Gorgias]], Socrates accuses poets and orators of flattery and says that they impress only women, children, and slaves). |
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Little is known of Meletus' life beyond what is portrayed in the [[Socratic dialogue|Socratic literature]], particularly [[Plato]]'s dialogues, where he is named as the chief accuser of Socrates. In the ''[[Euthyphro]]'', Plato describes Meletus as the youngest of the three prosecutors, having "a beak, and long straight hair, and a beard which is ill grown," and being unknown to Socrates prior to the prosecution.<ref name=euth>Plato, ''Euthyphro'', 2b</ref> Meletus is also mentioned briefly in the ''[[Theaetetus (dialogue)|Theaetetus]]''.<ref>Theaetetus 210d.</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Nails |first1=Debra |title=The People of Plato |publisher=Hackett Publishing |isbn=978-1-60384-403-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=y3YRwNsnu54C |page=202 |access-date=4 August 2023 |language=en}}</ref> In Xenophon's [[Hellenica]], he is reported as one of the envoys that were sent to negotiate a truce with the Lacedaemonians during the war between the democratic rebels and the [[Thirty Tyrants]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Hellenica |url=http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Xen.+Hell.+2.4.&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0206 |website=Perseus Digital Library |access-date=12 August 2022}}</ref> |
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The later Greek historian [[Diogenes Laërtius]] reported that after the execution of Socrates "Athenians felt such remorse" that they executed Meletus and banished his associates from the city,<ref>Diogenes Laërtius, 2.43</ref> at the incitement of a disciple of Socrates, [[Antisthenes]].<ref>Diogenes Laërtius, 6.9</ref> This claim is generally rejected as apocryphal by modern scholarship.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Nails |first1=Debra |title=The People of Plato |publisher=Hackett Publishing |isbn=978-1-60384-403-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=y3YRwNsnu54C |page=202 |access-date=4 August 2023 |language=en}}</ref> |
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==Trial of Socrates== |
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However, we do have Plato's record of Socrates' cross-examination of Meletus (in those days, the defendant always cross-examined the accuser). Using his characteristic [[Socratic method]], Meletus is made to seem an inarticulate fool. He says that Socrates corrupts the young, and that Socrates is the only one to do so, but he can not provide a motive for why Socrates would do this. Socrates shows that if he were to do this it must surely be in ignorance, for no man would intentionally make bad those living around him. Concerning the accusation that Socrates believed in strange spirits and not the gods of the state, Socrates tricks Meletus into saying that spirits are the offspring of gods, and since no one believes in flutes playing without flute players, or in horses' offspring without horses, how could Socrates believe in the offspring of gods without believing in gods? For much of his cross examination Meletus remains silent, and we are led to believe that he does not have ready answers for Socrates. |
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{{main|Trial of Socrates}} |
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==See also== |
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Greek historian [[Diogenes Laertius]], writing in the first half of the 3rd century, dubiously reported that after the execution of Socrates "Athenians felt such remorse" that they banished Meletus from their city. |
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*[[List of speakers in Plato's dialogues]] |
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==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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[[Category:Ancient Athenians]] |
[[Category:Ancient Athenians]] |
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[[Category:Socrates]] |
[[Category:Socrates]] |
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[[ca:Mèlet]] |
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[[es:Meleto]] |
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[[fi:Meletos]] |
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Latest revision as of 20:57, 28 October 2024
Meletus (Ancient Greek: Μέλητος; fl. 5th–4th century BCE), a citizen of Athens in the Classical Era, came from the Pithus deme and has become known for his prosecuting role in the trial - and eventual execution - of the philosopher Socrates in 399 BCE.
Life
[edit]Little is known of Meletus' life beyond what is portrayed in the Socratic literature, particularly Plato's dialogues, where he is named as the chief accuser of Socrates. In the Euthyphro, Plato describes Meletus as the youngest of the three prosecutors, having "a beak, and long straight hair, and a beard which is ill grown," and being unknown to Socrates prior to the prosecution.[1] Meletus is also mentioned briefly in the Theaetetus.[2][3] In Xenophon's Hellenica, he is reported as one of the envoys that were sent to negotiate a truce with the Lacedaemonians during the war between the democratic rebels and the Thirty Tyrants.[4]
The later Greek historian Diogenes Laërtius reported that after the execution of Socrates "Athenians felt such remorse" that they executed Meletus and banished his associates from the city,[5] at the incitement of a disciple of Socrates, Antisthenes.[6] This claim is generally rejected as apocryphal by modern scholarship.[7]
Trial of Socrates
[edit]During the first three hours of trial, Meletus and the other two accusers each stood in the law court in the center of Athens to deliver previously crafted speeches to the jury against Socrates. No record of Meletus' speech survives.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Plato, Euthyphro, 2b
- ^ Theaetetus 210d.
- ^ Nails, Debra. The People of Plato. Hackett Publishing. p. 202. ISBN 978-1-60384-403-1. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- ^ "Hellenica". Perseus Digital Library. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
- ^ Diogenes Laërtius, 2.43
- ^ Diogenes Laërtius, 6.9
- ^ Nails, Debra. The People of Plato. Hackett Publishing. p. 202. ISBN 978-1-60384-403-1. Retrieved 4 August 2023.