From the book
Symposium
Plato · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordThe doctor borrows the dual pattern of Pausanias’ Loves but changes the associated divine figures to Muses.
- In the SymposiumThe heavenly musical Love preserves orderly desire and can improve those not yet orderly.
- In this editionThe Greek prints Polymnia, while the English uses the familiar “Polyhymnia”.
- A place to readFrom musical structures to the two Loves in their human use.
Meaning
The doctor borrows the dual pattern of Pausanias’ Loves but changes the associated divine figures to Muses.
Use in the book
The heavenly musical Love preserves orderly desire and can improve those not yet orderly. The Common Love associated with Polyhymnia is to be applied cautiously so that its pleasure is enjoyed without generating excess. This is regulated use, not absolute rejection. The contrast belongs to the application of music to people, after the preceding discussion of harmony and rhythm as such.
Places to read
Translation in this edition
The Greek prints Polymnia, while the English uses the familiar “Polyhymnia”. The distinction from Pausanias’ Aphrodites must be preserved even though “Heavenly” is repeated.
Οὐρανία (Ourania)
Ourania — Urania or Heavenly, the Muse to whom Eryximachus assigns the beautiful, heavenly Love.
Read: Urania and Polyhymnia.
Πολυμνία (Polymnia)
Polymnia — Polyhymnia, assigned the Common Love whose pleasure requires careful management.
- 187e — Πολυμνίας. Her Love may be used without implanting licentiousness.
Read: Urania and Polyhymnia.