---
product_id: 62772726
title: "The Symposium (Penguin Classics)"
price: "€ 29.58"
currency: EUR
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 13
url: https://www.desertcart.hr/products/62772726-the-symposium-penguin-classics
store_origin: HR
region: Croatia
---

# The Symposium (Penguin Classics)

**Price:** € 29.58
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** The Symposium (Penguin Classics)
- **How much does it cost?** € 29.58 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.hr](https://www.desertcart.hr/products/62772726-the-symposium-penguin-classics)

## Best For

- Customers looking for quality international products

## Why This Product

- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Description

The Symposium (Penguin Classics) : Plato, Gill, Christopher, Gill, Christopher, Gill, Christopher: desertcart.co.uk: Books

Review: Thank you - Good edition of this treasure book
Review: This is how the ancient Greeks do it... - The Symposium is a classic dialogue of Plato's and is set during an ancient Greek drinking party, with the discussion revolving around Love/Desire. As well as a philosophical work, it is a fantastic piece of history and the scene of the party is so well presented that you really do get a sense of the social scene in ancient Greece at the time (circa 400BC). I am quite new myself to the works of Plato and philosophy in general, so I can't offer up a discussion of how it fits into the wider scheme of things but I can say that Symposium is an enjoyable and interesting discussion. Whether the ideas presented in this dialogue are scientifically or even philosophically relevant now I'm not too sure, but it's still a wonderful piece of ancient Greece, complete with the usual references to Greek Gods and Goddesses and musings on the mystery of love. You may be as surprised as I was to read that nearly all references to love and lovers are concerning man and boy relationships, rather than heterosexual relationships, though this is not really important to the nature of love as is discussed. It seems to have been a much more acceptable and normal practice to the ancient Greeks, than it is in the modern world. Some of Penguin classic' series on Plato's dialogues can be difficult to read, being interspersed with lengthy commentary and footnotes, though that this does not happen with this book. The dialogue is unbroken by any commentary and this is better for the reader, as it allows him or her to produce their own understanding of the text. There is a lengthy introduction and closing notes, though if you do intend to read these then these are best read after you have read the dialogue, again so as not to be influenced by the ideas and conclusions of someone else. All in all, this a fairly short but enjoyable book, that is an interesting and an enlightening glimpse into the social and philosophical beginnings of western civilisation.

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| ASIN  | 0140449272 |
| Best Sellers Rank | 21,678 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) 476 in Philosophy (Books) |
| Customer reviews | 4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars (807) |
| Dimensions  | 0.79 x 14 x 21.59 cm |
| Edition  | Revised ed. |
| ISBN-10  | 9780140449273 |
| ISBN-13  | 978-0140449273 |
| Item weight  | 113 g |
| Language  | English |
| Print length  | 144 pages |
| Publication date  | 27 Feb. 2003 |
| Publisher  | Penguin Classics |

## Images

![The Symposium (Penguin Classics) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61xvggMrOzL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Thank you
*by M***H on 17 December 2025*

Good edition of this treasure book

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This is how the ancient Greeks do it...
*by M***D on 25 June 2012*

The Symposium is a classic dialogue of Plato's and is set during an ancient Greek drinking party, with the discussion revolving around Love/Desire. As well as a philosophical work, it is a fantastic piece of history and the scene of the party is so well presented that you really do get a sense of the social scene in ancient Greece at the time (circa 400BC). I am quite new myself to the works of Plato and philosophy in general, so I can't offer up a discussion of how it fits into the wider scheme of things but I can say that Symposium is an enjoyable and interesting discussion. Whether the ideas presented in this dialogue are scientifically or even philosophically relevant now I'm not too sure, but it's still a wonderful piece of ancient Greece, complete with the usual references to Greek Gods and Goddesses and musings on the mystery of love. You may be as surprised as I was to read that nearly all references to love and lovers are concerning man and boy relationships, rather than heterosexual relationships, though this is not really important to the nature of love as is discussed. It seems to have been a much more acceptable and normal practice to the ancient Greeks, than it is in the modern world. Some of Penguin classic' series on Plato's dialogues can be difficult to read, being interspersed with lengthy commentary and footnotes, though that this does not happen with this book. The dialogue is unbroken by any commentary and this is better for the reader, as it allows him or her to produce their own understanding of the text. There is a lengthy introduction and closing notes, though if you do intend to read these then these are best read after you have read the dialogue, again so as not to be influenced by the ideas and conclusions of someone else. All in all, this a fairly short but enjoyable book, that is an interesting and an enlightening glimpse into the social and philosophical beginnings of western civilisation.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Hard to read at times
*by D***E on 24 December 2025*

I adore Ancient Greece; myths, archaeology, culture, and philosophy combined. Plato and his works are no exception. However, for what is actually a 10 page conversation, the book takes 95 pages - of just discussing it afterwards. Which would be fine, as I love to yap about Greek Mythos. However this was translated in the 19th century. By someone who speaks incredibly fancy, just adding words where even historically it could have been said easier. Made it quite a hard read at times, but otherwise relatively great :))

## Frequently Bought Together

- The Symposium (Penguin Classics)
- The Republic (Penguin Classics)

---

## Why Shop on Desertcart?

- 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016
- 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories
- 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price
- 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members)
- 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection
- ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews

**Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.hr/products/62772726-the-symposium-penguin-classics](https://www.desertcart.hr/products/62772726-the-symposium-penguin-classics)

---

*Product available on Desertcart Croatia*
*Store origin: HR*
*Last updated: 2026-02-20*