This report examines two “modes of appearance” of Homer in Plato’s “Symposium”: both in the light of difference and complementarity of them, which allows us to understand the “essence of Plato’s nature”, according to T. Vasilyeva: «he [i.e. Plato] uncompromisingly and inextricably connects the ascent with the descent». A peculiar “proteism” and “shapeshifting” of Socrates is seen as slipping/sliding and sometimes as a sort of intersection of tragedy-comedy and philosophy-sophistry. The interpretation of T. Vasilyeva’s thought cited above is also given: Plato as one who provides riddles.
     

Plato, Plato’s dialogues, estrangement, shapeshifting, riddle