Parmenides (Part III) - Lofty Zeno

Antiphon: Pythodorus recounted that Zeno and Parmenides once visited to celebrate the Great Panathenæa. Parmenides was well advanced in years, with greyish white hair but of beautiful appearance and admired by many. He was sixty-five years of age, and Zeno was almost forty years of age. Zeno was extremely tall and of graceful appearance. He was said to be the most loyal companion of Parmenides. He, together with Pythodorus, met at the Ceramicus beyond the walls. Socrates was also present, and many others were with him, all of them desiring to hear the writings of Zeno. This would be the first time that they would become acquainted with his writings. However, Socrates was very young at the time. Zeno himself read his writings to them. 

Pythodorus further recounted that Parmenides was away at this point, and only a small part of Zeno'a reading remained to be finished when himself joined, together with Parmenides and Aristotle, who was one of the thirty tyrants. As a consequence of this, he heard very little at that time, but he had often before listened to the whole of Zeno's discourse.

Socrates, upon hearing the latter part of Zeno's discourse, implored him to repeat the first hypothesis.

Plato, Parmenides

Beyond the walls, what is the significance of this in relation to the divine?

Does Pythodorus's message convey something, and does something become apparent?

What is Antiphon's position in relation to Pythodorus?

What is Antiphon's position in relation to those who have travelled and others who have remained in their home city?

Zeno is articulate, and his discourses are profound. He shares in a sameness with sagacious Parmenides. That which flows from the same instantly returns to it.

What happens next features a very young and enthusiastic Socrates. 

Note from the editor of Classical Philosophy