Halcyon (dialogue)

Part of the series on:
The dialogues of Plato
Early dialogues:
Apology Charmides Crito Euthyphro First Alcibiades Hippias Major Hippias Minor Ion Laches Lysis
Transitional and middle dialogues:
Cratylus Euthydemus Gorgias Menexenus Meno Phaedo Protagoras Symposium
Later middle dialogues:
Republic Parmenides Theaetetus Phaedrus
Late dialogues:
Clitophon Timaeus Critias Sophist Statesman Philebus Laws
Of doubtful authenticity:
Axiochus Demodocus Epinomis Eryxias Halcyon Hipparchus Minos On Justice On Virtue Rival Lovers Second Alcibiades Sisyphus Theages

Halcyon (Greek: Ἀλκυών) is a short dialogue with the distinction of being attributed in the manuscripts to both Plato and Lucian, although the work is not by either writer.^[1] Favorinus, writing in the early 2nd century, attributes it to a certain Leon.^[2]

In the dialogue, Socrates relates to Chaerephon the ancient myth of the Halcyon, a woman transformed into a bird forever searching the seas in lament. The conversation is conducted in the port of Phaleron, also the narrative setting of Plato's Symposium. Socrates advocates epistemological humility for mortals in light of the gods' abilities.

The text was included in the 1st century CE Platonic canon of Thrasyllus of Mendes, but had been expunged prior to the Stephanus pagination and is thus rarely found in modern collections of Plato, although it appears in Hackett's Complete Works. It is often still included among the spurious works of Lucian.^[3]

Notes