In the history of ancient philosophy, few figures loom as large as Socrates, whose relentless process of questioning continues to inform philosophical and ethical inquiry today. During his time, Socrates was a peculiar and sometimes puzzling figure: to some, a barefoot gadfly, to others a brilliant and revolutionary teacher. This absorbing volume chronicles what is known of this unorthodox thinker and his incredible legacy. It also provides a window into both the foundations of Western philosophy and the history of golden age Athens, the fate of which was closely tied to that of Socrates himself.