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The Shadows of Socrates: The Heresy, War, and Treachery Behind the Trial of Socrates
The death of Socrates may be the most famous unsolved murder in history. Set during the Peloponnesian War, this narrative solves that mystery, revealing for the first time how the philosopher was set up, who did it, and why.
The influence of the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates has been profound. Even today, over two thousand years after his death, he remains one of the most renowned humans to have ever lived, occupying a stratum with the likes of Buddha, Jesus, Muhammed, Confucius, and Moses. It may not be too much to say that Socrates is the single most recognizable name in the history of all humanity.
The death of Socrates is, in some ways, the most famous unsolved murder mystery in history. This book will solve the mystery, revealing for the first time how he was set up, who did it, and why. What follows is not a philosophical tract but something closer to a novel—made all the more compelling because it’s true. This is a real-life whodunit intertwined with a long running war, rivalry, sex addiction, betrayal, sedition, starvation, and epic bravery. Socrates was the most rational of men living in the most irrational of times.
There is another side to this impiety, lack of reverence for the gods, was a religious crime. From the perspective of the religious authorities of the time, the charge of impiety against Socrates was warranted, his trial just, and the penalty appropriate. The priests did not tolerate scrutiny, even in the form of philosophical critique. To understand what happened and how it happened, we have to come to terms with the motives of the priests, and as importantly, Socrates’ motives in provoking them. His trial is perhaps first, but not last, great battle between philosophy and religion.
The repercussions of this ancient epic apply equally to the West today, as Athens also endured pendulum swings between democracy and oligarchy—always with bloodshed, and never with Socrates’s approval.
The influence of the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates has been profound. Even today, over two thousand years after his death, he remains one of the most renowned humans to have ever lived, occupying a stratum with the likes of Buddha, Jesus, Muhammed, Confucius, and Moses. It may not be too much to say that Socrates is the single most recognizable name in the history of all humanity.
The death of Socrates is, in some ways, the most famous unsolved murder mystery in history. This book will solve the mystery, revealing for the first time how he was set up, who did it, and why. What follows is not a philosophical tract but something closer to a novel—made all the more compelling because it’s true. This is a real-life whodunit intertwined with a long running war, rivalry, sex addiction, betrayal, sedition, starvation, and epic bravery. Socrates was the most rational of men living in the most irrational of times.
There is another side to this impiety, lack of reverence for the gods, was a religious crime. From the perspective of the religious authorities of the time, the charge of impiety against Socrates was warranted, his trial just, and the penalty appropriate. The priests did not tolerate scrutiny, even in the form of philosophical critique. To understand what happened and how it happened, we have to come to terms with the motives of the priests, and as importantly, Socrates’ motives in provoking them. His trial is perhaps first, but not last, great battle between philosophy and religion.
The repercussions of this ancient epic apply equally to the West today, as Athens also endured pendulum swings between democracy and oligarchy—always with bloodshed, and never with Socrates’s approval.
320 pages, Hardcover
Published February 6, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 6, 2024
This is an excellent telling of the events leading up to the second most famous trial in history. Gatton convincingly develops this argument;
1. The Athenian religious ceremony known as the Mysteries of Eleusis was the central religious force in the Athen's of Socrates time.
2. The ceremony centered on bright figures of Greek gods appearing to float in the air in the Temple of Eleusis.
3. The figures were an optical illusion created by the priests using a camera obscura, which is an optical effect using a shaft of bright light in a dark chamber.
4. Callias and Alcibiades where both adopted by Pericles, the great Greek hero. Callias was a sneaky conniver who became the chief priest of the Temple of Eleusis. Alcibiades was a brilliant soldier, world class conman and, probably a psychopath. They hated each other.
5. Alcibiades pulled off some kind of desecration of the Mysteries of Eleusis with some friends. Callias set out to destroy him. Alcibiades was selected as a general for an invasion of Sicily by the Athenians.
6. There was an amazingly complicated series of battles, campaigns, and alliances. Alcibiades turned traitor and joined with Sparta to attack Athens. He flipped sides several more times and was finally assassinated.
7. Alcibiades was one of Socrates best known students. He appears in several of Plato's dialogues.
8. Athens was twice ruled by oppressive and murderous oligarchies during this period. The 'Thirty Tyrants" were a brutal regime that murdered hundreds of Athenians without trial or cause. They were led by Kritias, also a well-known student of Socrates who appears in several of Plato's dialogues.
9. Socrates' parable of the cave was a direct attack on the Mysteries of Eleusis. It was forbidden to discuss the mysteries but Socrates' story of misleading shadows from a fire which projected images on the wall of a cave, was a thinly veiled attack and debunking of the Mysteries. The point of the parable was that the shadows on the wall were false.
10. Socrates trial and execution was organized behind the scenes by Callias, the Chief Priest of the Temple. Socrates was charged because of his attack on the gods of Athens and because experience showed that his teachings corrupted his students to the point where they became a menace to Athens.
The most interesting part of this book is Gatton's focus on the Mysteries of Eleusis. He originated the camera obscura theory and this, at times, feels like an attempt to increase its significance, but he makes a convincing case.
This is not a scholarly work. Gatton uses standard translations and, unlike most writers on Ancient Greece, he largely stays out of the arguments about the meanings of particular words. He has an exciting story to tell, and he focuses on using a well told story to make his case. Greek scholars would not approve of his technique for quoting ancient sources. Many times in the notes he says that quotes "are presented here with some minor alterations to enhance flow and clarity."
Gatton covers fascinating ground here. Alcibiades is one of the most fascinating men in history. He is an amazing mix of bravery, military leadership, personal charm and persuasion with treachery, cruelty and evilness. The Athenian invasion of Syracuse is a great war stories, with a cameo appearance by a kidney stone. These are fascinating times and Gatton tells them well.
I was surprised that the trial itself gets very little discussion. Classic questions like, did Socrates want to be killed? or why did more Athenians vote for the death penalty than voted to convict him? , are not really discussed.
There is also not very much discussion of Socrates actual teachings. Certainly, many of his teaching were inconsistent with the central ideas of democratic Athens.
This is a very good telling of the events leading up to the trial of Socrates. The camera obscura theory of the Mysteries of Eleusis and its importance to Socrates trial is fascinating and well argued.
1. The Athenian religious ceremony known as the Mysteries of Eleusis was the central religious force in the Athen's of Socrates time.
2. The ceremony centered on bright figures of Greek gods appearing to float in the air in the Temple of Eleusis.
3. The figures were an optical illusion created by the priests using a camera obscura, which is an optical effect using a shaft of bright light in a dark chamber.
4. Callias and Alcibiades where both adopted by Pericles, the great Greek hero. Callias was a sneaky conniver who became the chief priest of the Temple of Eleusis. Alcibiades was a brilliant soldier, world class conman and, probably a psychopath. They hated each other.
5. Alcibiades pulled off some kind of desecration of the Mysteries of Eleusis with some friends. Callias set out to destroy him. Alcibiades was selected as a general for an invasion of Sicily by the Athenians.
6. There was an amazingly complicated series of battles, campaigns, and alliances. Alcibiades turned traitor and joined with Sparta to attack Athens. He flipped sides several more times and was finally assassinated.
7. Alcibiades was one of Socrates best known students. He appears in several of Plato's dialogues.
8. Athens was twice ruled by oppressive and murderous oligarchies during this period. The 'Thirty Tyrants" were a brutal regime that murdered hundreds of Athenians without trial or cause. They were led by Kritias, also a well-known student of Socrates who appears in several of Plato's dialogues.
9. Socrates' parable of the cave was a direct attack on the Mysteries of Eleusis. It was forbidden to discuss the mysteries but Socrates' story of misleading shadows from a fire which projected images on the wall of a cave, was a thinly veiled attack and debunking of the Mysteries. The point of the parable was that the shadows on the wall were false.
10. Socrates trial and execution was organized behind the scenes by Callias, the Chief Priest of the Temple. Socrates was charged because of his attack on the gods of Athens and because experience showed that his teachings corrupted his students to the point where they became a menace to Athens.
The most interesting part of this book is Gatton's focus on the Mysteries of Eleusis. He originated the camera obscura theory and this, at times, feels like an attempt to increase its significance, but he makes a convincing case.
This is not a scholarly work. Gatton uses standard translations and, unlike most writers on Ancient Greece, he largely stays out of the arguments about the meanings of particular words. He has an exciting story to tell, and he focuses on using a well told story to make his case. Greek scholars would not approve of his technique for quoting ancient sources. Many times in the notes he says that quotes "are presented here with some minor alterations to enhance flow and clarity."
Gatton covers fascinating ground here. Alcibiades is one of the most fascinating men in history. He is an amazing mix of bravery, military leadership, personal charm and persuasion with treachery, cruelty and evilness. The Athenian invasion of Syracuse is a great war stories, with a cameo appearance by a kidney stone. These are fascinating times and Gatton tells them well.
I was surprised that the trial itself gets very little discussion. Classic questions like, did Socrates want to be killed? or why did more Athenians vote for the death penalty than voted to convict him? , are not really discussed.
There is also not very much discussion of Socrates actual teachings. Certainly, many of his teaching were inconsistent with the central ideas of democratic Athens.
This is a very good telling of the events leading up to the trial of Socrates. The camera obscura theory of the Mysteries of Eleusis and its importance to Socrates trial is fascinating and well argued.
December 23, 2025
Despite the low rating, it was a good read. I think it’s a good read if you want a modern introduction to the history of Greece during Socrates’s life. If you want a serious work of history or philosophy, on the other hand, this is not a good read.
Gatton’s understanding of Plato’s philosophy, especially from the Republic, is inadequate, inaccurate, and irrelevant. The theory of Forms is a pretty strong metaphysical thesis, one that is not widely accepted in contemporary philosophy. That’s not a definitive reason to reject it, but Gatton presents it as a theory of reason or something like that. It’s actually hard to know how well he understands the theory of Forms since it’s treated so quickly. But it certainly is not meant to be a theory in opposition to the Supernatural Realm. Gatton takes what seems to be some serious interpretive liberties for the purpose and content of the theory of Forms. Anyway, it’s unclear why a metaphysical theory is important to Gatton’s argument. But even if it is, he seems to have gotten it mostly wrong.
The majority of the book is a summary of others’ works. Basically, he summarizes Thucydides and Xenophon for the history. Strangely, there is no engagement with other classical scholars about those works. It seems we have his personal interpretation of these classical works. His interpretations may be the best, but it’s hard to take them seriously when he does not engage with other scholars.
I found the religion versus philosophy theme to be extremely odd. I have already written too much, but suffice it to say that Plato’s work does not suggest a religion versus philosophy theme. The main reason is that such a distinction did arguably not exist until the Enlightenment period.
Most of the book reads like a modern imposition on an ancient philosophical work that has some political importance. That’s not a good way to do history.
I think this book could have gotten away with a much weaker but more plausible thesis. Plato’s inspiration for the Allegory of the Cave was from the Eleusinian Mysteries. The extra steps to say that (1) Socrates taught this to the public (or to the wrong people), and (2) the Athenian government executed Socrates because he did this requires more work. It’s not impossible, but Gatton has not made it plausible.
Gatton’s understanding of Plato’s philosophy, especially from the Republic, is inadequate, inaccurate, and irrelevant. The theory of Forms is a pretty strong metaphysical thesis, one that is not widely accepted in contemporary philosophy. That’s not a definitive reason to reject it, but Gatton presents it as a theory of reason or something like that. It’s actually hard to know how well he understands the theory of Forms since it’s treated so quickly. But it certainly is not meant to be a theory in opposition to the Supernatural Realm. Gatton takes what seems to be some serious interpretive liberties for the purpose and content of the theory of Forms. Anyway, it’s unclear why a metaphysical theory is important to Gatton’s argument. But even if it is, he seems to have gotten it mostly wrong.
The majority of the book is a summary of others’ works. Basically, he summarizes Thucydides and Xenophon for the history. Strangely, there is no engagement with other classical scholars about those works. It seems we have his personal interpretation of these classical works. His interpretations may be the best, but it’s hard to take them seriously when he does not engage with other scholars.
I found the religion versus philosophy theme to be extremely odd. I have already written too much, but suffice it to say that Plato’s work does not suggest a religion versus philosophy theme. The main reason is that such a distinction did arguably not exist until the Enlightenment period.
Most of the book reads like a modern imposition on an ancient philosophical work that has some political importance. That’s not a good way to do history.
I think this book could have gotten away with a much weaker but more plausible thesis. Plato’s inspiration for the Allegory of the Cave was from the Eleusinian Mysteries. The extra steps to say that (1) Socrates taught this to the public (or to the wrong people), and (2) the Athenian government executed Socrates because he did this requires more work. It’s not impossible, but Gatton has not made it plausible.
July 12, 2024
Religion and politics do not mix. Heresy becomes treason and the philosopher’s counsel that “The unexamined life is not worth living” is equated with corruption of the youth.
This was the case in Athens in 399 BC. Is anything different today?
This was the case in Athens in 399 BC. Is anything different today?
April 21, 2024
Gatton offers a highly accessible, highly readable exploration of one of the most famous events and characters in history--but as he says, the topic is also one of the most mysterious. Readers are treated to a logical breakdown, bringing in key political players (the corrupt and ambitious Alcibiades and his equally terrible brother, Callias), a discussion of Athenian culture and the nature of piety, Socrates' relationships, and the chain of events that led to his trial and condemnation. Gatton's examination of the Mysteries of Eleusis is particularly intriguing and he discusses the Republic's Allegory of the Cave as the basis for Socrates' accusers' evidence of his impious thinking. I would not call this book particularly academic or scholarly, but it is packed with details, exactingly cited, and a good read. Gatton's enthusiasm for his subject matter shines through. Adult.
April 4, 2024
An excellent synopsis of the end days of the great Socrates. Well written for the layman.
July 28, 2025
Well argued and presented, Shadows initiates the classically under-educated to the Athens in the time of Socrates and credibly explains his demise.
January 1, 2025
Gatton provides an eye-opening romp through Classical Athens, as he carefully collects details from all the disparate primary sources and assembles them into a coherent narrative that reads like a historical novel. His main thesis is that Socrates questioned (and his Allegory of the Cave threatened to expose) the secrets of the Eleusinian Mysteries, and that was the hidden agenda behind the charge that Socrates "did not acknowledge the gods that the city acknowledged." His secondary thesis is that several of the young aristocrats (most notably Alcibiades) who followed Socrates would later turn out to support the oligarchies of the Four Hundred and/or the Thirty Tyrants, which created an atmosphere of resentment when democracy was finally restored in 403, and that was the basis of the charge of "corrupting the youth." The second thesis seems more firmly established; the first is based largely on circumstantial evidence but is more interesting.
Gatton helpfully identifies his primary sources at every step along the way. But he sometimes overdraws them. For example, I would not say that Socrates "trained Alcibiades (or Critias or anyone) to be a philosopher-king." According to Plato, Socrates denied being a teacher at all, in that that he never took fees to teach, and he didn't know anything to teach. He only asked people questions that tended to expose their arrogance and weak logic, and young aristocrats enjoyed hanging around watching Socrates's conversation partners twist. Also, much depends on whether the Allegory of the Cave was created by Plato or was Plato's accurate report of a story that Socrates created. And if Socrates did create that story, then when did he do so, and how widely known was it in Socrates's lifetime? Furthermore, while Gatton occasionally points out debatable issues of interpretation in the sources, he usually takes details at face value, as if every writer were equally reliable in reporting facts. For example, Plato, Xenophon, Aristophanes and Andocides were contemporaries but had competing agendas, while Plutarch and Diogenes Laertius were writing five and six centuries after the events with their own audiences and agendas, and their sources of information are not always clear.
So I would like a little more hard-nosed historical analysis to nail down the details. But I have to admit that Gatton weaves the threads together into a terrific tale of intrigue that would make a great mini-series.
Gatton helpfully identifies his primary sources at every step along the way. But he sometimes overdraws them. For example, I would not say that Socrates "trained Alcibiades (or Critias or anyone) to be a philosopher-king." According to Plato, Socrates denied being a teacher at all, in that that he never took fees to teach, and he didn't know anything to teach. He only asked people questions that tended to expose their arrogance and weak logic, and young aristocrats enjoyed hanging around watching Socrates's conversation partners twist. Also, much depends on whether the Allegory of the Cave was created by Plato or was Plato's accurate report of a story that Socrates created. And if Socrates did create that story, then when did he do so, and how widely known was it in Socrates's lifetime? Furthermore, while Gatton occasionally points out debatable issues of interpretation in the sources, he usually takes details at face value, as if every writer were equally reliable in reporting facts. For example, Plato, Xenophon, Aristophanes and Andocides were contemporaries but had competing agendas, while Plutarch and Diogenes Laertius were writing five and six centuries after the events with their own audiences and agendas, and their sources of information are not always clear.
So I would like a little more hard-nosed historical analysis to nail down the details. But I have to admit that Gatton weaves the threads together into a terrific tale of intrigue that would make a great mini-series.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews