misadventure in sicily
The political theory of the Republic called for rule by philosopher-kings. In late middle age Plato was challenged to travel to Sicily to put his ideal into practice by educating the reigning young tyrant of Syracuse, Dionysius II. Syracuse was known as the most luxurious and debauched of the Greek cities. In his Seventh Letter, Plato explains his motives for accepting the challenge and recounts the outcome of what he himself suspected was a fool's errand.