The Symposium

The Symposium (Συμπόσιον) is a philosphical text written by Plato. The book orientates around the idea of genesis, purpose and neture of love, as well as being changed in more recent 

interpretations as the origin of the concept of Platonic love.

In the Symposium, the idea of Love is examined in a sequence of speaches by men attending the symposium. A symposium is very much like a social event, or a drinking party. Each man that attends must deliver a encomium, which is a speach in praise or Eros; Love. This party takes place in the house of the Tragedian Agathorn in Athens.

When the speaches were conducted, Socrates 

explained that the highest purpose of love is to become a philosopher, to become a lover of 

wisdom as an example of the kind of 

discussions that were being made. The Plato 

society has become a way that many historians can get an underlying idea of what has happened in the social life of anchient athens, in partucular the sexual behaviour and the institution. 

A Greek symposium was classed as a key social institution, similar to that of victorian gentlemen's clubs. It was classed as a forum of men of good family to debate, plot and boast and revel with others. They were also often held to celebrate the introduction of young men into aristocratic

 society. Symposia were also held by aristocrats to celebrate other special occasions, such as

 victories in athletic and poetic contests.

A Symposia in general would be held in the men's quaters of the household. The participants, or symposiasts would recline on pillowed couches arrayed against the three walls of the room away from the door. There would be between 7 and 9 couches, which would limit the total number of participants between 14 and 27. 

If any young men took part in the event, they were not allowed to recline but had to sit up. This is because there was a lot of respect for the knowledge and wisdom of the elderly or older generation in the event. As you become classed bore knowledgable and show a deeper and greater understanding, you will be allowed to recline. 

Food and wine would be served with entertainent provided, which could include anything from games, songs, flute-girls or boys, slaves performing 

various acts of hired entertainment. 

The most famous symposium of all, described in Plato's dialogue of that name (and rather 

differently in Xenophon's) was hosted by the poet Agathon on the occasion of his first victory at the theater contest of the 416 BC Dionysia. According to Plato's account, the celebration was upstaged by the unexpected entrance of the toast of the town, the young Alcibiades, dropping in drunken and nearly naked, having just left another 

symposium.

The men apart of the symposium would discuss a multitude of topics from philosophy to the 

differences between gender and love.