{"id":38586,"date":"2020-12-06T00:02:57","date_gmt":"2020-12-05T22:02:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lecturesbureau.gr\/1\/?p=38586"},"modified":"2020-12-05T23:15:29","modified_gmt":"2020-12-05T21:15:29","slug":"the-infamous-episode-between-socrates-and-xanthippi-that-the-whole-of-athens-was-talking-about-2386","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lecturesbureau.gr\/1\/the-infamous-episode-between-socrates-and-xanthippi-that-the-whole-of-athens-was-talking-about-2386\/?lang=en","title":{"rendered":"The infamous episode between Socrates and Xanthippe that the whole of Athens was talking about … (PHILIP MATYSZAK)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Xanthippe is recalling her recent dinner \u2013 a meal that became the talk of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Athens. Socrates had spontaneously invited a group of friends to his home,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>confidently assuming that Xanthippe could put together a dinner for six at a\u00a0<\/span><\/span>moment\u2019s notice. Regrettably, the household larder contained nothing but a\u00a0<\/span><\/span>few\u00a0vegetable<\/span>s and a rack of lamb.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Xanthippe had complained bitterly that even if she went hungry, this wasn\u2019t\u00a0<\/span><\/span>enough for a decent meal for the guests. \u2018If they\u2019re good friends, they won\u2019t\u00a0<\/span><\/span>care,\u2019 said Socrates. \u2018If they are not good friends, then I don\u2019t care.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

Socrates didn\u2019t think to ask if Xanthippe cared, even if it was her reputation\u00a0<\/span><\/span>as a housekeeper at stake.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
Xanthippe explains to Phaedra\u2019s mother that, contrary to rumour, the pair\u00a0<\/span><\/span>didn\u2019t fight about it. As Socrates often says, it takes two people for a fight, and <\/span>he doesn\u2019t fight with his wife. On this occasion, the more Xanthippe had\u00a0<\/span><\/span>screamed at Socrates the more reasonable Socrates became. Finally, Xanthippe\u00a0<\/span><\/span>had thrown him out of the house before she brained him with an urn.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
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Phaedra looks to see how her mother reacts to the astounding (but won-\u00a0<\/span><\/span>derful) idea of a wife throwing her husband out of the house. Sadly, her mother\u00a0<\/span><\/span>is turned away and she can only see the vine-wreathed bun at the back of her\u00a0<\/span><\/span>head. <\/span><\/div>\n
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Xanthippe\u2019s face is earnest in the torchlight as she continues to try to ex<\/span>plain the difficulties of her marriage.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>So, Socrates was on a bench in the courtyard. From upstairs Xanthippe\u00a0<\/span><\/span>could see that he had started up a conversation with some admirers who just\u00a0<\/span><\/span>wandered in off the street. He was about to invite them to dinner as well, so\u00a0<\/span><\/span>what could Xanthippe do? She was carrying a bucket of water, so she just\u00a0<\/span><\/span>tipped it. Over his head.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
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Phaedra\u2019s mother looks at Xanthippe in amazement. \u2018How did Socrates take\u00a0<\/span><\/span>it?\u2019<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\u2018You haven\u2019t heard?\u2019 asks Xanthippe sourly. \u2018He just looked up, and re-\u00a0<\/span><\/span>marked, \u201cWell, after the thunder, you can expect rain.\u201d Since then everyone re-\u00a0<\/span><\/span>peats that back at me \u2013 which hurts more than if he had taken a stick to my\u00a0<\/span><\/span>buttocks.<\/span>\u00a0But<\/span>\u00a0Socrates<\/span>\u00a0would<\/span>\u00a0not<\/span>\u00a0hit<\/span>\u00a0me.<\/span>\u00a0He\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0too<\/span>\u00a0gentle.\u2019<\/span>\u00a0That<\/span>\u00a0last<\/span>\u00a0word<\/span>\u00a0is<\/span>\u00a0ut-<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>tered with venom.<\/span><\/p>\n

A young man shoulders through the crowd, a garland of ivy and violets\u00a0<\/span><\/span>askew on his beribboned head, copper curls of hair shining in the torchlight.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>He looks at Phaedra with a wide, happy smile and gives her an elegantly over-\u00a0<\/span><\/span>exaggerated salutation. Phaedra giggles and hides her face. So, this is the noto-\u00a0<\/span><\/span>rious Alcibiades. He looks much younger than she would have imagined. Her\u00a0<\/span><\/span>parents are stony-faced, while Xanthippe gives Alcibiades an outright glare.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Alcibiades now ignores the blushing bride and turns his attention to Xan-\u00a0<\/span><\/span>thippe, asking her solicitously, \u2018I trust you have recovered from your recent\u00a0<\/span><\/span>disastrous dinner party. Did Socrates get the cake I sent so that he wouldn\u2019t\u00a0<\/span><\/span>starve?\u2019\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Phaedra knows what happened to that cake. Almost certainly Alcibiades<\/span> does, too. When it comes to Socrates, the Athenian rumour mill is very effi-\u00a0<\/span><\/span>cient. Xanthippe had taken the cake and trampled it into the street. Afterwards\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the dogs ate what was left.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Socrates was philosophical about the entire incident. He had just shrugged\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and asked if Xanthippe realized that she had trampled her share of the cake as\u00a0<\/span><\/span>well. Now the fuming Xanthippe takes a half-step towards Alcibiades. Phaedra\u00a0<\/span><\/span>is somewhat relieved that Xanthippe has no weapons near to hand. In her cur<\/span>rent mood, she would probably use them.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Xanthippe<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
Most of the interactions between Xanthippe and Socrates come verbatim\u00a0<\/span><\/span>from<\/span>\u00a0Diogenes<\/span>\u00a0La\u00ebrtius\u2019<\/span>\u00a0Lives<\/span>\u00a0and<\/span>\u00a0Opinions<\/span>\u00a0of<\/span>\u00a0the<\/span>\u00a0Eminent<\/span>\u00a0Philosophers,<\/span>\u00a0Book<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>5<\/span>\u00a0passim,<\/span>\u00a0though<\/span>\u00a0the<\/span>\u00a0trampling<\/span>\u00a0of<\/span>\u00a0Alcibiades\u2019<\/span>\u00a0cake<\/span>\u00a0comes<\/span>\u00a0from<\/span>\u00a0Aelian\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0As-<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>sorted<\/span>\u00a0Histories<\/span>\u00a012.12.<\/span>\u00a0The<\/span>\u00a0feuding<\/span>\u00a0couple<\/span>\u00a0never<\/span>\u00a0divorced<\/span>\u00a0because<\/span>\u00a0they<\/span> <\/span>seemed, despite everything, to actually love each other. Socrates frequently\u00a0<\/span><\/span>defended Xanthippe, and she was completely distraught at his execution, as\u00a0<\/span><\/span>seen<\/span>\u00a0in<\/span>\u00a0Plato\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0Phaedo<\/span>\u00a060.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/h1>\n

 <\/p>\n

24 Hours in Ancient Athens<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

PHILIP MATYSZAK<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Xanthippe is recalling her recent dinner \u2013 a meal that became the talk of\u00a0Athens. Socrates had spontaneously invited a group of friends to his home,\u00a0confidently assuming that Xanthippe could put together a dinner for six at a\u00a0moment\u2019s notice. Regrettably, the household larder contained nothing but…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":38590,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[73],"tags":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lecturesbureau.gr\/1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/post-2386.jpg?fit=900%2C609&ssl=1","rttpg_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lecturesbureau.gr\/1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/post-2386.jpg?fit=900%2C609&ssl=1",900,609,false],"landscape":["https:\/\/www.lecturesbureau.gr\/1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/post-2386.jpg",900,609,false],"portraits":["https:\/\/www.lecturesbureau.gr\/1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/post-2386.jpg",900,609,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lecturesbureau.gr\/1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/post-2386.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lecturesbureau.gr\/1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/post-2386.jpg?fit=300%2C203&ssl=1",300,203,true],"large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lecturesbureau.gr\/1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/post-2386.jpg?fit=900%2C609&ssl=1",900,609,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lecturesbureau.gr\/1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/post-2386.jpg?fit=900%2C609&ssl=1",900,609,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lecturesbureau.gr\/1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/post-2386.jpg?fit=900%2C609&ssl=1",900,609,true],"portfolio-square":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lecturesbureau.gr\/1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/post-2386.jpg?resize=570%2C570&ssl=1",570,570,true],"portfolio-portrait":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lecturesbureau.gr\/1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/post-2386.jpg?resize=600%2C609&ssl=1",600,609,true],"portfolio-landscape":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lecturesbureau.gr\/1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/post-2386.jpg?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1",800,600,true],"menu-featured-post":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lecturesbureau.gr\/1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/post-2386.jpg?resize=345%2C198&ssl=1",345,198,true],"qode-carousel_slider":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lecturesbureau.gr\/1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/post-2386.jpg?resize=400%2C260&ssl=1",400,260,true],"portfolio_slider":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lecturesbureau.gr\/1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/post-2386.jpg?resize=500%2C380&ssl=1",500,380,true],"portfolio_masonry_regular":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lecturesbureau.gr\/1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/post-2386.jpg?resize=500%2C500&ssl=1",500,500,true],"portfolio_masonry_wide":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lecturesbureau.gr\/1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/post-2386.jpg?resize=900%2C500&ssl=1",900,500,true],"portfolio_masonry_tall":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lecturesbureau.gr\/1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/post-2386.jpg?resize=500%2C609&ssl=1",500,609,true],"portfolio_masonry_large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lecturesbureau.gr\/1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/post-2386.jpg?resize=900%2C609&ssl=1",900,609,true],"portfolio_masonry_with_space":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lecturesbureau.gr\/1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/post-2386.jpg?fit=700%2C474&ssl=1",700,474,true],"latest_post_boxes":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lecturesbureau.gr\/1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/post-2386.jpg?resize=539%2C303&ssl=1",539,303,true],"woocommerce_thumbnail":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lecturesbureau.gr\/1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/post-2386.jpg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1",300,300,true],"woocommerce_single":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lecturesbureau.gr\/1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/post-2386.jpg?fit=600%2C406&ssl=1",600,406,true],"woocommerce_gallery_thumbnail":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lecturesbureau.gr\/1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/post-2386.jpg?resize=100%2C100&ssl=1",100,100,true]},"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/www.lecturesbureau.gr\/1\/author\/admin\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"Philosophy<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"Xanthippe is recalling her recent dinner \u2013 a meal that became the talk of\u00a0Athens. Socrates had spontaneously invited a group of friends to his home,\u00a0confidently assuming that Xanthippe could put together a dinner for six at a\u00a0moment\u2019s notice. 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