What year did the trial of Socrates take place?
The trial of Socrates took place in the year 399 BC. The Athenian jury of five hundred men decided the fate of the seventy-year-old philosopher during this year.
Questions about Apology (Plato)
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who were the three accusers of Socrates in the Apology?
The three accusers of Socrates were Anytus, Meletus, and Lycon. Anytus represented the craftsmen and politicians, Meletus represented the poets, and Lycon represented the professional rhetoricians.
What specific charges were brought against Socrates?
The specific charges brought against Socrates were impiety for introducing new gods and corruption of the youth who followed him into the streets. These charges were amplified by the comic playwright Aristophanes in 423 BC.
How many votes separated the conviction from acquittal in the trial of Socrates?
Only thirty votes separated acquittal from death when the jury voted to convict Socrates. This narrow margin indicates the division within the Athenian jury regarding his fate.
What fine did Socrates' supporters offer to pay after the conviction?
Socrates' supporters including Plato, Crito, Critobulus, and Apollodorus offered to pay a sum of 3,000 drachmae. The judges were not swayed by this offer and proceeded with the death penalty.