The Symposium Characters

Socrates (c. 470 B.C.–399 B.C.) was Plato’s teacher and appears as a main character in many of Plato’s dialogues, including Symposium. Though he left no writings of his own, he is considered the founder… read analysis of Socrates

Alcibiades is a notorious figure, both historically and within Symposium. Historically, Alcibiades betrayed Athens more than once and was exiled, then recalled from exile in 407 B.C. because he was the only person thought… read analysis of Alcibiades

Diotima is a fictitious prophetess whom Socrates invents in his speech at the symposium. He portrays her as having initiated him into the higher mysteries of Eros through a dialectical discussion. Through the metaphor of… read analysis of Diotima of Mantinea

Aristophanes was considered to be the most accomplished writer of comedies in the ancient world. In Symposium, his speech is an exercise in myth-making, explaining that sexual attraction came about when Zeus cut humans… read analysis of Aristophanes

Pausanias is an older man who is in a long-term relationship with Agathon in Symposium, though little is known about him as a historical figure. In his speech, he distinguishes between “common” and “heavenly”… read analysis of Pausanias

Aristodemus is the one who told Apollodorus what happened at the symposium, so it’s really his perspective that makes up most of Symposium, albeit narrated by Apollodorus. He’s described as “a little man who… read analysis of Aristodemus of Cydathenaeum

Apollodorus is the narrator of Symposium who describes the speeches of the symposium to his unnamed companion, although he wasn’t there himself. He heard about the speeches from Aristodemus, and he shared the details… read analysis of Apollodorus