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Ancient Philosophers

Plato of Athens

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The student of Socrates wrote down what his teacher never wrote, and built a second world behind this one: the cave, the forms, the perfect and the true.

10 chapters · about 1,600 words · 5–15 min to read.

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How it begins

EnglishGreek

The Wrestler

Ο παλαιστής

Plato was born in Athens, into a rich and famous family, about thirty years after Socrates. His family belonged to the oldest families of the city, and his mother's family went back to Solon, the great lawgiver.

Ο Πλάτων γεννήθηκε στην Αθήνα, σε μια πλούσια και διάσημη οικογένεια, περίπου τριάντα χρόνια μετά τον Σωκράτη. Η οικογένειά του ανήκε στις παλαιότερες οικογένειες της πόλης, και η οικογένεια της μητέρας του έφτανε πίσω μέχρι τον Σόλωνα, τον μεγάλο νομοθέτη.

His real name was Aristocles. "Plato" was a nickname, and it means "broad". People said that the name came from his broad shoulders and his strong body. He was a wrestler, and a good one.

Το πραγματικό του όνομα ήταν Αριστοκλής. Το «Πλάτων» ήταν παρατσούκλι και σημαίνει «πλατύς». Ο κόσμος έλεγε ότι το όνομα προερχόταν από τους πλατείς ώμους του και το δυνατό του σώμα. Ήταν παλαιστής, και μάλιστα καλός.

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Languages

  • Plato of Athens · English (original)B1 Intermediate · 1,611 words · ~15 min
  • Platon von Athen · GermanB1 Intermediate · 1,588 words · ~15 min
  • Ο Πλάτων της Αθήνας · GreekB1 Intermediate · 1,620 words · ~15 min
  • Platón de Atenas · SpanishB1 Intermediate · 1,620 words · ~15 min
  • Platon d’Athènes · FrenchB1 Intermediate · 1,787 words · ~15 min
  • एथेंस का प्लेटो · HindiB1 Intermediate · 1,884 words · ~15 min
  • Plato dari Athena · IndonesianB1 Intermediate · 1,524 words · ~15 min
  • Platone di Atene · ItalianB1 Intermediate · 1,600 words · ~15 min
  • アテネのプラトン · JapaneseB1 Intermediate
  • 아테네의 플라톤 · KoreanB1 Intermediate · 1,155 words · ~10 min
  • Platão de Atenas · PortugueseB1 Intermediate · 1,613 words · ~15 min
  • Platon din Atena · RomanianB1 Intermediate · 1,610 words · ~15 min
  • Atinalı Platon · TurkishB1 Intermediate · 1,215 words · ~10 min
  • 雅典的柏拉图 · ChineseB1 Intermediate
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More stories at this level

Intermediate stories in English with Greek beside it.

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Questions

Which languages can I read Plato of Athens in?
English, German, Greek, Spanish, French, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish and Chinese. Pick the language you want to read and the one to keep beside it: every paragraph sits next to its translation, so you can check a sentence without losing your place.
What level is it?
The original English is B1 Intermediate. In translation, German, Greek, Spanish, French, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish and Chinese are B1 Intermediate. Levels follow the Common European Framework, from A1 (beginner) to C2.
How long is it?
About 1,611 words in 10 chapters: around 5–15 min of reading, with the translation beside it. The time depends on the edition's level: an easier edition is read more slowly.
Is it free?
Yes. Read it online with no account. The downloads (PDF, EPUB, and AZW3 and MOBI for Kindle) need a free account.
Can I read it on a Kindle or Kobo?
Yes. Download the EPUB for Kobo, Apple Books and most e-readers, or the AZW3 or MOBI for a Kindle, with each paragraph followed by its translation. There is also a side-by-side PDF to print, and each language on its own.