Plato of Athens

Ο Πλάτων της Αθήνας

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.

B115 minAudio

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How it begins

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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.

The opening paragraphs, as the reader shows them. Read on

Languages

Plato of Athens · English (original)B1 Intermediate · 1,611 words · ~15 min · Audio
Platon von Athen · GermanB1 Intermediate · 1,588 words · ~15 min · Audio
Ο Πλάτων της Αθήνας · GreekB1 Intermediate · 1,620 words · ~15 min
Platón de Atenas · SpanishB1 Intermediate · 1,620 words · ~15 min · Audio
Platon d’Athènes · FrenchB1 Intermediate · 1,787 words · ~15 min · Audio
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
Plato van Athene · DutchB1 Intermediate · 1,676 words · ~15 min
Platon z Aten · PolishB1 Intermediate · 1,335 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
Plato của thành Athens · VietnameseB1 Intermediate · 2,240 words · ~20 min
雅典的柏拉图 · ChineseB1 Intermediate

Questions

Which languages can I read Plato of Athens in?

English, German, Greek, Spanish, French, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish, Vietnamese 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, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish, Vietnamese and Chinese are B1 Intermediate. Levels follow the Common European Framework, from Pre-A1 (starter) to C2.

How long is it?

About 1,611 words in 10 chapters: around 5–20 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.

Plato of Athens

How it begins

Languages

Questions

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