Love

Such was the demeanour of Callias at this time under the influence of Love;

and brought from Charmides the remark, It seems to me, gentlemen, that, as Socrates said of the wine, so this blending of the young people’s beauty and of the notes of the music lulls one’s griefs to sleep and awakens the goddess of Love.

Gentlemen, said he, it is to be expected of us, is it not, when in the presence of a mighty deity that is coeval with the eternal gods, yet youngest of them all in appearance, in magnitude encompassing the universe, but enthroned in the heart of man,—I mean Love,—that we should not be unmindful of him, particularly in view of the fact that we are all of his following?

but the friendship that arises with beauty and the bloom of youth is justly named Love, and seems to be the fairest of the gods.

Love, Love, who once sought these Dardanian halls, deep-seated in the hearts of heavenly gods, how high you made Troy to tower in those days, allying her with deities!

The Speech of Pausanias

Parmenides says of Birth that she invented Love before all other gods.

Thus Love is by various authorities allowed to be of most venerable standing;