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371 PLATO

Plato was born at Athens in 427 b. c, of a wealthy and aristocratic family which traced its descent from the old kings of prehistoric times, and was connected Λvith the law- giver Solon. His father was Aristo, and in infancy he himself received his grandfather's name Aristocles, but was afterwards called Plato (Broad), from the breadth of his chest, or his forehead, or from the copiousness of his style. His mother was Perictione, sister of Charmides and cousin of Critias, who were prominent among the Thirty Tyrants who for a brief time ruled Athens at the close of the Pelo- ponnesian War, 404 B. c. That he felt the course of Cri- tias and Charmides to be no disgrace but a glory, is shown by his naming a dialogue after each, and he cannot have been in sympathy with the democratic party in his native city.

The youthful Plato is said to have distinguished himself in gymnastics and even to have entered the Isthmian Games at Corinth in competition for a prize. Entirely probable is the story that he had ambitions as a poet, and in particular desired to distinguish himself in tragedy. His dialogues show not only poetic studies and genius, but peculiar interest in tragedy. The occasion and circumstances of his meet- ing with Socrates are unknown. Very probably he joined the company of Socrates's followers when he Λvas about twenty years old, or in 407 B. c.

On the death of Socrates, in April or May of 399 B. c, Plato withdrew from Athens and spent some time in Egj-pt. Thence he returned and formed a school, or more strictly, according to Athenian law, a religious society of his foUow-