Menexenus

The Menexenus is a dialogue attributed to Plato, categorized among his early works. It is presented as a funeral oration that Socrates claims to have learned from Aspasia, the mistress of Pericles. This work is often interpreted as a satire on the patriotic distortions of history commonly found in such speeches. The dialogue explores themes related to Athenian history and rhetoric, contrasting with the more philosophical inquiries typical of Plato's middle and late dialogues. Unlike other early dialogues that focus on Socrates testing individuals on virtues, the Menexenus uses a funeral oration as its framework.12