Sócrates, como Odiseo, invocador de las almas de los muertos (ψυχαγωγεῖ Σωκράτης …ὥσπερ Οὑδυσσεύς)

Abstract

The expression ψυχαγωγεῖ ΣωκÏάτης used by Aristophanes in Birds has been interpreted in different ways. However, the fact that the comediographer compares the action of invoking the souls of the dead to Odysseus, á½¥ÏƒÏ€ÎµÏ ÎŸá½‘Î´Ï…ÏƒÏƒÎµÏÏ‚, suggests that book 11 of the Odyssey was the model that inspired the scene. Many platonic passages from Protagoras, Republic, Gorgias, Phaedo and Apology explain which could have been the cause of the aristophanic parody: Socrates’propensity to mention Odysseus in his descriptions of what is awaiting for the souls in Hades after the death.