Socrates among the Corybantes : being, reality, and the Gods

Preface. 1 A brief sketch of the Euthydemus. 2 The Euthydemus in previous commentaries. 3 The first socratic discourse. 4 The second socratic discourse. 5 Two, not one, or the chairing of cleinias. 6 The harrowing transition. 7 The final revelation. 8 Conclusion

'In Plato's dialogues, we find many references to Corybantic rites--rites of initiation performed in honor of the goddess Rhea. But in the dialogue titled the Euthydemus, there is more than a mere reference to the rites to be found. Within the context of Socratic dialectic the ancient rites of the Corybantes are acted out--although veiled and distorted. This is what Carl Levenson argues in his new book Socrates Among the Corybantes. If Levenson is correct in his thesis about the Euthydemus, then this dialogue is a valuable source for the history of religion as the rites of the Corybantes were meant to be secret.'

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