Charmides (/ˈkɑːrmɪdiːz/;Ancient Greek:Χαρμίδης), son of Glaucon, born circa 446 BC, was anAthenian statesman.[1] An uncle ofPlato, Charmides appears in the Platonic dialogue bearing his name (Charmides), theProtagoras, and theSymposium, as well as inXenophon'sSymposium,Memorabilia, andHellenica.[2] In the Charmides dialogue, he is asked the definition of the term "temperance", and when he cannot sufficiently provide one, this sets up the main plot of the dialogue, the search for the meaning of the term. A wealthy orphan raised by his first cousin,Critias, his property was confiscated for his role in profaning theEleusinian Mysteries in 415 BC.[1] He is commonly listed as one of theThirty Tyrants who ruled Athens following its defeat in thePeloponnesian War, but evidence points only to his having been one of the ten men appointed by the Thirty to govern thePiraeus.[1] He was killed in theBattle of Munichia in 403 BC when the democrats returned to Athens.[1]
This Charmides was probably not the same man as the father of the great Athenian sculptorPhidias, also named Charmides.[3]