Menexenus is a dialogue written by the ancient Greek philosopher Plato, believed to have been composed in the fourth century BCE. The dialogue is set in Athens and features Socrates and Menexenus, a young Athenian politician, as the main characters. The dialogue begins with Menexenus asking Socrates to teach him a speech for a public funeral. Socrates agrees and proceeds to deliver a speech on behalf of the Athenian state. The speech is a eulogy for the fallen soldiers who have died in battle, and it praises the virtues of Athens and its people. However, as the speech progresses, Socrates begins to question the authenticity of the speech and the motives behind it. He argues that the speech is not actually about the fallen soldiers, but rather a way for the Athenian elite to glorify themselves and their own accomplishments. Through this dialogue, Plato explores themes of rhetoric, power, and the manipulation of language for political gain. He also critiques the Athenian society and its leaders, suggesting that they are more concerned with their own interests than the welfare of the city as a whole. Overall, Menexenus is a thought-provoking work that challenges readers to think critically about the role of rhetoric and power in society.SOCRATES: O Menexenus! Death in battle is certainly in many respects a noble thing. The dead man gets a fine and costly funeral, although he may have been poor, and an elaborate speech is made over him by a wise man who has long ago prepared what he has to say, although he who is praised may not have been good for much. The speakers praise him for what he has done and for what he has not done.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.