Concept
Phaenarete
Overview
Phaenarete (Greek Φαιναρέτη, born c. 484 BC), wife of Sophroniscus, was the mother of the Greek philosopher Socrates and his half-brother, Patrocles. (Since Sophroniscus had died before 424 BC, he was probably Phaenarete's first husband, while Chaeredemus, father of Patrocles, was her second). Historian of philosophy Debra Nails puts Phaenarete's birthdate around 484 BC, as she must have been old enough to give birth to Socrates in 469 and yet young enough to give birth to Patrocles about 450. She was apparently alive at the time of the Euthydemus, which was set in or after 407.
The name Phaenarete means "She who brings virtue to light", and it is, according to A.E. Taylor, "suggestive of good family connexions", based on its appearance in the genealogy of the immortal Amphitheus in Aristophanes' Acharnians.
Very little is known of the life of Phaenarete. In Plato's Theaetetus, Socrates compares his own work as a philosopher with hers as a maia (midwife). According to John Burnet, the role of maia was "performed by women of good family"
Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).
Possible passages
Found by search and not yet checked by a person; they may only mention the idea in passing.
Demetrius the Phalerian, in his Socrates, says, he knew one Lysimachus, son to the daughter of Aristides, extremely poor, who used to sit near what is called the Iaccheum, and sustained himself by a table for interpreting dreams; and that, upon his proposal and representations, a decree was passed by the people, to give the mother and aunt of this man half a drachma a day. The same Demetrius, when he was legislating…
Plutarch, Plutarch
States what Phaenarete is.
Now in those days the god Thamus was the king of the whole country of Egypt; and he dwelt in that great city of Upper Egypt which the Hellenes call Egyptian Thebes, and the god himself is called by them Ammon. To him came Theuth and showed his inventions, desiring that the other Egyptians might be allowed to have the benefit of them; he enumerated them, and Thamus enquired about their several uses, and praised some…
Plato, Phaedrus
States what Phaenarete is.
There were presently men in arms sent to pursue, but they followed no farther than to Tegea; and Theseus and Pirithous being now out of danger, having passed through Peloponnesus, made an agreement between themselves, that he to whom the lot should fall should have Helen to his wife, but should be obliged to assist in procuring another for his friend.
Plutarch, The Boys' and Girls' Plutarch
Close in meaning to Phaenarete; the term itself is not named.
Philosophers who discussed Phaenarete
Related ideas
- Aristophanes
- Greek language
- Ancient Greek philosophy
- Socrates
- John Burnet (classicist)
- Theaetetus (dialogue)
- Euthydemus (dialogue)
- Encyclopædia of Religion and Ethics
- Sophroniscus
Place in the tradition
Part of Socrates.