Aristodemus of Cydathenaeum
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Aristodemus of Cydathenaeum (Greek: Ἀριστόδημος Κυδαθηναιεύς Aristódēmos Kudathēnaieύs; fl. c. 5th century BCE) was an ancient Athenian follower of the philosopher Socrates. He is best remembered as a character and narrative source in Plato's Symposium, and is also preserved in Xenophon's Memorabilia and a fragment from Aristophanes.
Aristodemus is described as a barefooted runt of low birth in Plato's Symposium,[3] while Xenophon refers to him as Aristodemus the dwarf ("Ἀριστόδημον τὸν μικρόν Aristódēmon tón mikrón"). He was a citizen of the same deme as that of the comedian Aristophanes, with whom he appears in the Symposium. Although little is known of his life, his depiction as a member of an earlier generation of Socratic followers places his birth in the early-mid 5th century BCE,[4] a theory supported by his apparent inclusion in Aristophanes' comedy Banqueters[5] of 427. Scholars assume that his death preceded the end of the 5th century, since he was not present during Socrates' final days in 399 despite being a devoted student.[3][4][6]