
06 Dec The infamous episode between Socrates and Xanthippe that the whole of Athens was talking about … (PHILIP MATYSZAK)
Xanthippe is recalling her recent dinner – a meal that became the talk of Athens. Socrates had spontaneously invited a group of friends to his home, confidently assuming that Xanthippe could put together a dinner for six at a moment’s notice. Regrettably, the household larder contained nothing but a few vegetables and a rack of lamb. Xanthippe had complained bitterly that even if she went hungry, this wasn’t enough for a decent meal for the guests. ‘If they’re good friends, they won’t care,’ said Socrates. ‘If they are not good friends, then I don’t care.’
Socrates didn’t think to ask if Xanthippe cared, even if it was her reputation as a housekeeper at stake.
‘You haven’t heard?’ asks Xanthippe sourly. ‘He just looked up, and re- marked, “Well, after the thunder, you can expect rain.” Since then everyone re- peats that back at me – which hurts more than if he had taken a stick to my buttocks. But Socrates would not hit me. He’s too gentle.’ That last word is ut- tered with venom.
A young man shoulders through the crowd, a garland of ivy and violets askew on his beribboned head, copper curls of hair shining in the torchlight. He looks at Phaedra with a wide, happy smile and gives her an elegantly over- exaggerated salutation. Phaedra giggles and hides her face. So, this is the noto- rious Alcibiades. He looks much younger than she would have imagined. Her parents are stony-faced, while Xanthippe gives Alcibiades an outright glare. Alcibiades now ignores the blushing bride and turns his attention to Xan- thippe, asking her solicitously, ‘I trust you have recovered from your recent disastrous dinner party. Did Socrates get the cake I sent so that he wouldn’t starve?’
Phaedra knows what happened to that cake. Almost certainly Alcibiades does, too. When it comes to Socrates, the Athenian rumour mill is very effi- cient. Xanthippe had taken the cake and trampled it into the street. Afterwards the dogs ate what was left. Socrates was philosophical about the entire incident. He had just shrugged and asked if Xanthippe realized that she had trampled her share of the cake as well. Now the fuming Xanthippe takes a half-step towards Alcibiades. Phaedra is somewhat relieved that Xanthippe has no weapons near to hand. In her current mood, she would probably use them.
Xanthippe
24 Hours in Ancient Athens
PHILIP MATYSZAK