Socrates (469-399 BCE) is considered the father of Western philosophy. Although he wrote nothing himself, versions of his conversations come down to us in the writings of his pupils, Plato and Xenophon. His teachings brought him into conflict with the piety laws of Athens and, after being found guilty of corrupting the young, he was forced to commit suicide by drinking hemlock.

According to his pupils, Socrates was pug-nosed and flabby. This statuette, said to be from Alexandria in Egypt, is slightly more flattering but still stresses that, like all good philosophers, he cares more about his mind than his body