We are used to thinking of myths as stories, and modern myths as made up and fictitious. For the ancient Greeks, however, a myth was a story that unveiled reality, and for Plato, myth-maker as well as myth-teller, a myth could tell us something important about ourselves and our world. The ultimate purpose of Plato`s myths is to help us live a better life, and to teach philosophical truths in a form we can most easily understand. This volume brings together ten of the most celebrated Platonic myths, from eight of Plato`s dialogues ranging from the early Protagoras and Gorgias to the late Timaeus and Critias. They include the famous myth of the cave from Republic as well as `The Judgement of Souls` and `The Birth of Love`. Each myth is a self-contained story, prefaced by a short explanatory note, while the introduction considers Plato`s use of myth and imagery.

These myths are thought-provoking and profound, and together they provide an ideal introduction to Plato`s philosophy.