Phaenarete(88 words)
[German version]
(Φαιναρέτη; Phainarétē). Mother of Patrocles from her first marriage, to Chaeredemus (Pl. Euthyd. 297e) and of Socrates from her second marriage, to Sophroniscus. In Pl. Tht. 148e-151d, Socrates explains that his mother was a midwife, and he equates his deeds with hers. It is not impossible that Plato invented the profession of P. for the sake of this metaphor, after which it became included as a 'fact' into the Socrates legend.
Maieutic method
Döring, Klaus (Bamberg)
Bibliography
A. Raubitschek, s.v. P. (2), RE 19, 1562f.
Cite this page
Döring, Klaus (Bamberg),
“Phaenarete”, in:
Brill’s New Pauly, Antiquity volumes edited by: Hubert Cancik and , Helmuth Schneider, English Edition by: Christine F. Salazar, Classical Tradition volumes edited by: Manfred Landfester, English Edition by: Francis G. Gentry.
Consulted online on 17 January 2021 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1574-9347_bnp_e917610>
First published online: 2006
First print edition: 9789004122598, 20110510
▲ Back to top ▲