INTRODUCTION sequel. And the Republic, Timaeus, and unfinished Critias constitute the first of the" trilogies in which Aristophar Byzantium arrang Platonic dial The Timaeus accord v with a brief recapitulation of the main political and social features of the Republic. But nothing can be The dramatic date of the dialogue is plausibly assigned by Boeckh e to the year 411 or 410. Proof is impossible because Plato admits anachronisms his dramas. e Socrates tells how he went down to the peirac to attend the new festival of the Thracian Artemis Bendis, and, turning homewards, was detained by Diogenes Laertius, iii. 61, and Zeller, Philosophic anenst of the universe by the creater (s Timn. is iv. pp. 47 ff, especially 448. p. 263, n. 1, argues that this is the owett and Campbell, vol. iii. pp. 2-3: Zeller stances of p. 4s9. Arguments are based on the circu at Ath as early 499-499 B.c. But he thinks plato s the first celebration" may refer to special ceremonies firs instituted circa 4IlINTRODUCTION sequel. And the Republic, Timaeus, and unfinished Critias constitute the first of the " trilogies " in which Aristophanes of Byzantium arranged the Platonic dialogues." The Timaeus accordingly opens with a brief recapitulation of the main political and social features of the Republic. But nothing can be inferred from the variations of this slight summary.*' The dramatic date of the dialogue is plausibly assigned by Boeckh '^ to the year 411 or 410.'* Proof is impossible because Plato admits anachronisms in his dramas.* Socrates tells how he went down to the Peiraeus to attend the new festival of the Thracian Artemis, Bendis/ and, turning homewards, was detained by " Cf. Diogenes Laertius, iii. 61, and Zeller, Philosophie der Griechen*, vol. ii. pt. i. pp. 494 f., n. 2. " Proclus tries to show that the points selected for em￾phasis are those which prefigure the constitution and govern- ment of the universe by the Creator (In Tim. 17 e-f). His reasoning is differently presented but hardly more fantastic than that of modern critics who endeavour to determine by this means the original design or order of publication of the parts of the Rep^iblic. Cf. further Taylor, Plato, p. 264, n. 2. " Kleine Schriften, iv. pp. 437 ff., especially 448. ** A. E. Taylor, Plato, p. 263, n. 1, argues that this is the worst of all possible dates. ' Cf. Jowett and Campbell, vol. iii. pp. 2-3 ; Zeller, vol. ii. pt. i. p. 489. Arguments are based on the circum￾stances of the family of Lysias, the presumable age of Socrates, Glaucon, Adeimantus and Thrasymachus, and the extreme old age of Sophocles. f The religion of Bendis may have been known at Athens as early as Cratinus's Thraitfai {4'iS B.C.), Kock, Fragmenfa, i. 34. Mommsen, Fe.ste der Stadt Athen, p. 490, cites inscriptions to prove its establishment in Attica as early as 429-428 B.C. But he thinks Plato's " inasmuch as this was the first celebration " may refer to special ceremonies first instituted circa 411 b.c