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Prison of Socrates, Athens

Prison of Socrates, Athens


Socrates belongs to the epoch immediately succeeding the age of Pericles, 469–399 B. C. Socrates was “the greatest spirit of the pagan world.” His contribution to the wisdom of mankind was greater than that of any other philosopher. He understood human nature, and he dealt with human nature in wisest fashion. His teachings can not fail to interest and instruct the seeker for truth in every age. He was a teacher. He taught without pay in portico, market-place and street, addressing all who chose to listen and addressing them in homely but pointed and effective style.

Notwithstanding his noble life, in B. C. 399 an open accusation was brought against him, and he was charged before the Athenian magistrates with not believing in the gods. Being condemned on these charges he was sentenced to drink a cup of hemlock. To weeping and affectionate disciples who gathered about him he delivered an address at the last on the immortality of the soul. On the northeast slope of the hill of Pnyx, near the boulevard, is the so-called prison of Socrates. You see several conspicuous doorways cut in the rock, and now closed with wooden gates painted red. This traditional prison of Socrates is in view from Mars Hill. Paul himself might have seen it. The poet Shelley calls Socrates “the Jesus Christ of Greece.” The prison of Socrates and the hemlock he drank gave Plato to the world, while Golgotha gave St. Paul to the world. Socrates sought to eradicate evil by increase of self-knowledge, and Plato was his interpreter. Jesus Christ sought to rid the world of evil by making individuals true and pure through God’s grace, and St. Paul was his apostle and expounder.

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