IG II² 5768 Reexamined: Was Young Philetairos a Socratic?

William S. Morison (Grand Valley State University)

Here I, Philetairos, lie, having left behind [my youth,]               1
[having died] young at twenty and two years old,
having well-known praise in all my deeds,
having the greatest share of moderation and wisdom
and besides never absent from the gymnasia. (IG II² 5768)      5

My paper provides a new text of this early fourth-century inscription based on a fresh examination of the stone and argues that Philetairos was probably a young adherent of the early Socratic movement. Two features of this epigram are especially telling. First, the deceased is praised for his sophrosyne (moderation) and sophia (wisdom), and he is uniquely commended for his attendance in the gymnasia. Also, Philetairos’ age at the time of his death is included — something seldom done in Athenian grave inscriptions. As individual instances, each of these would merit only passing remarks, but together, I argue, they suggest something more: Philetairos was probably a young follower of Socrates or one of his immediate successors when he died in the early 390s.

As Plato’s dialogues testify, Socrates was deeply concerned with defining traditional virtues, such as sophrosyne, sophia, dikaiosyne, and andreia. There is also praise for Philetairos’ untiring attendance at the Athenian gymnasia, the site of several of Plato’s dialogues and a regular haunt of Socrates and his followers. On this evidence alone, it is reasonable to suggest that the young Philetairos had probably associated with one or more of Athens’ philosophers or sophists. Which ones? Xenophon states that a key reason for Socrates’ death was his connection with Alkibiades and with Kritias, leader of the Thirty. Both had brought great harm to Athens and their associates suffered as a consequence. In such an atmosphere the family of a young Socratic might have found it desirable to make a clear distinction between the sharing of virtuous philosophical ideals and of reprehensible political associations. The simplest way would be to state clearly that Philetairos was too young to have had anything to do with either Alkibiades or Kritias, who had died in 404 and 403 respectively.

Thus, the epigram for Philetairos may give us a contemporary glimpse into the concerns of the early Socratics in the years immediately after the philosopher’s death in 399 BC. The close connection of a youth praised for his sophrosyne and sophia, his attendance in the gymnasia, and the clear statement of his age recall his association with the best of the Socratic movement, but also make it clear that he was too young to have taken part in the reign of the Thirty.