Project Gutenberg 1999-03-01 Public domain in the USA. 876 Plato -428 -348 Πλάτων Jowett, Benjamin 1817 1893 Jowett, William Menexenus Socrates Wikipedia page about this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menexenus_(dialogue) Produced by Sue Asscher, and David Widger "Menexenus" by Plato is a dialogue that takes the form of a rhetorical exercise written during the late classical period of ancient Greece. The text features a conversation between Socrates and his friend Menexenus and centers on a funeral oration that Socrates claims to recount from Aspasia, the esteemed companion of Pericles. The work primarily discusses themes of memory, honor, and the nature of rhetoric in the context of Athenian society and its values. The dialogue begins with Socrates discussing the role of rhetoric in praising the dead, reflecting on the artifice of public speeches that often obscure the darker aspects of history. As Socrates delivers the oration, he extols the virtues of Athenian ancestors who fought bravely in significant battles such as Marathon and Salamis, while highlighting the nobility of their actions and the city's inherent greatness. The oration contains an ironic undertone as it blends genuine appreciation with satirical commentary on the exaggerations common in such speeches. Ultimately, the "Menexenus" serves as both an homage to Athenian valor and a critique of rhetorical practices, revealing Plato's nuanced view on the use of language in shaping public perception and memory. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Reading ease score: 54.8 (10th to 12th grade). Somewhat difficult to read. en Classical literature Rhetoric, Ancient Rhetoric -- Philosophy B PA Text Category: Plays/Films/Dramas Category: Classics of Literature Category: History - Ancient Category: Philosophy & Ethics 90838 2025-08-01T10:43:40.748719 text/html 85763 2013-01-16T10:45:00 text/html; charset=us-ascii 29935 2013-01-16T10:45:46 text/html; charset=us-ascii application/zip 93321 2025-08-01T10:43:44.723696 application/epub+zip 92004 2025-08-01T10:43:42.440697 application/epub+zip 92005 2025-08-01T10:43:41.390720 application/epub+zip 172989 2025-08-01T10:43:46.658670 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 163758 2025-08-01T10:43:44.098702 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 132832 2022-09-01T12:04:05.181257 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 77894 2025-08-01T10:43:40.495718 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 77736 2008-10-23T09:41:08 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 28739 2008-10-23T09:41:50 text/plain; charset=us-ascii application/zip 20421 2025-08-01T10:43:46.799673 application/rdf+xml 10823 2025-08-01T10:43:41.892709 image/jpeg 2825 2025-08-01T10:43:41.642710 image/jpeg 94330 2025-08-01T10:43:40.757714 application/octet-stream application/zip Archives containing the RDF files for *all* our books can be downloaded at https://book.klll.cc/wiki/Gutenberg:Feeds#The_Complete_Project_Gutenberg_Catalog en.wikipedia en.wikipedia