From the book
Symposium
Plato · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordThe commonplace object and the social contribution frame the grand undertaking in deliberately ordinary terms.
- In the SymposiumPhaedrus has encountered a book praising salt’s usefulness while, he claims, no poet has adequately praised Love.
- In this editionThe edition renders eranos through the phrase “bring him my contribution”.
- A place to readSalt’s praise contrasts with neglect, and the proposal becomes a contribution.
Meaning
The commonplace object and the social contribution frame the grand undertaking in deliberately ordinary terms.
Use in the book
Phaedrus has encountered a book praising salt’s usefulness while, he claims, no poet has adequately praised Love. Eryximachus answers by contributing to and gratifying his friend through the proposed speeches. The language makes praise something the guests jointly furnish, even though their accounts soon compete and correct one another.
Places to read
- 177b–dSalt’s praise contrasts with neglect, and the proposal becomes a contribution.
Translation in this edition
The edition renders eranos through the phrase “bring him my contribution”. The whole expression, not the noun alone, supplies the action of bringing or paying in.
ἅλς (hals)
hals — Salt, an everyday useful substance whose elaborate praise makes Phaedrus’ complaint comically pointed.
- 177b — ἅλες. Salt receives a marvelous praise for its benefit.
ἔρανος (eranos)
eranos — A contribution to a shared undertaking or collection; Eryximachus casts his proposal as a contribution to Phaedrus.
- 177c — ἔρανον εἰσενεγκεῖν. The phrase makes the speeches a cooperative contribution.