Athenaeus of Naucratis in his Deipnosophists represents the untypical image of Socrates. He casts doubt on Socrates’ military valour, criticizes him for the inconsistency, debauchery and intemperance in alcohol, refutes the facts from his biography retold by his disciples and followers. 
     This article describes and analyzes fragments from Athenaeus book about Socrates and try to investigate what is it – criticism or apologetics. 
     

antiquity, Socrates, biography, criticism, apologetics, Athenaeus of Naucratis, Plato, Xenophon