THE SCHOOL OF ATHENS: Focus on Socrates and Others

Socrates (470 - 399 BC) is the balding man on the right in the green garb.  He wrote nothing, yet was revered by the Greeks for his depth of knowledge and wisdom.  He is known primarily for two things.  First, he claimed that his insights stemmed from his recognition that he really did not know very much at all.  Second, he engaged in a method of inquiry (now known as the Socratic method) that involves asking and answering questions to arrive at a deeper understanding of an issue.  To his left (in order, right to left) are Alcibiades, Xenophon, and Alexander the Great.  Alcibiades (450? - 404 BC) was a famed Athenian general and statesman known for his intelligence and handsomeness (notice the pose!).  Xenophon (426 - 354 BC) was a writer and general, most known for his Apology, where he defended Socrates against the charges for which he was eventually executed. In the ornate helm stands Alexander the Great (356 - 323 BC), who was tutored by Aristotle and spread Greek culture and philosophy across Asia Minor as his armies conquered most of the known ancient world.