Socrates: Wise and Influential Look into the eyes of the bust of Socrates and you can almost see what he saw in the universe. It seems that his wisdom is insurmountable, because he believed himself to be the most brilliant man in the universe, while being sure: the only thing he knows is that he knows nothing. Unlike the famous statues of Kouros which were all similar and used for a certain purpose as a tomb or sanctuary of the gods, the portrait of Socrates shows depth and importance. During the Classic period, it became increasingly common for Greek sculptures to depict more realistic forms. The portrait of Socrates details a man who was not afraid to ask difficult questions, it also shows that he was perhaps also revered and feared by the Greeks. His statue was made twenty years after his death. For a man who was accused of corrupting the youth and executed for it, one might ask why did anyone think this man deserved a statue? Did the Greeks begin to side with his ideas and theories after a dip in their victories? Perhaps the views of the Sophists were beginning to move beyond earlier views of Greek culture. This sculpture may have been the apotheosis of Socrates' career, a way of elevating him to the rank of pioneer at a time when the gods were far from explaining causes in the lives of the Greeks. The interpretation of Socrates shows a man who demands respect from those who choose to listen to his teachings, even though he demanded not to be a true teacher. He is depicted as an aging man who represents a life of hard work and travel. Socrates had a huge impact on Greek society, and even the rest of the world for many...... middle of paper ...... and thought his death would purify the city of Athens. In a sense, Socrates sacrifices himself for the city as a man respected and loved by many. Socrates' life was similar to his philosophies in more ways than one. He was loved and unloved by society. He was wise and depicted as such in the statue that depicts him, even though he considers himself reckless. His thoughts and actions were preserved by the writings of his students, and his ideas were preserved by actions of the world beyond his time. It is clear why a statue of this man was created; his questions changed the world.Works CitedStaff, History.com. “Socrates.” History.com. NP, 2009. Web. April 14, 2014. “Socrates.” Ancient Greece. NP, 2003. Web. April 14. 2014. .