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Hermogenes

500 BC – 400 BC

Ancient Greek philosopher

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About Hermogenes

Lived 500 BC – 400 BC. Hermogenes was a Greek philosopher.

Hermogenes (; fl. 5th–4th century BC) was an ancient Athenian philosopher best remembered as a close friend of Socrates as depicted by Plato and Xenophon.

Life Hermogenes was the son of Hipponicus, brother of the wealthy Callias, and resident of the Alopece deme alongside Socrates. Although he belonged to the great family of Callias, he is mentioned by Xenophon as a man of very little property, suggesting that he may have been an illegitimate son of Hipponicus. Plato, on the other hand, suggests that he was unjustly deprived of his property by Callias, his brother.

He is an interlocutor in Plato's Cratylus dialogue, where he maintains that all the words of a language were formed by an agreement of people amongst themselves. Xenophon cites Hermogenes as his source on the trial of Socrates in his Apology, and Plato includes Hermogenes in the list of individuals present at Socrates' execution. Diogenes Laërtius states that he was one of the teachers of Plato, but this claim does not appear elsewhere in the surviving literature.

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Important facts

Born
500 BC, Alopeke
Birth century
Died
400 BC
Occupation
Nationality
Also known as
Hermogenes of Athens

People in Hermogenes's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Hermogenes's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Hermogenes?

ancient Greek philosopher

When was Hermogenes born?

Hermogenes was born in 500 BC in Alopeke.

When did Hermogenes die?

Hermogenes died in 400 BC.

What was Hermogenes's occupation?

Hermogenes was a philosopher.

What nationality was Hermogenes?

Hermogenes was Greek.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Hermogenes

· Wikidata: Q1336424

· DBpedia: Hermogenes (philosopher)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Hermogenes. https://biography.guide/hermogenes/

MLA: "Hermogenes." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/hermogenes/.

Chicago: "Hermogenes." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/hermogenes/.

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