1. See Guthrie, IV, pp. 136–7.

2. The Lysis is generally agreed to be among the latest of the early dialogues: see Guthrie, IV, pp. 134–5; C. H. Kahn, ‘Did Plato Write Socratic Dialogues?’, Classical Quarterly, 31(1981), pp. 305–20; G. Vlastos, ‘The Socratic Elenchus’, Oxford Studies in Ancient Philosophy, 1 (1983), p. 27 n. 2 and pp. 57–8, and ‘Socrates’ Disavowal of Knowledge’, Philosophical Quarterly, 35 (1985), p. 1 n. 1. For the dramatic date of the work, see p. 120 n. 4.

3. For fuller discussion of philia, see Dirlmeier, Fraisse and Ferguson, pp. 53–75; also Robin and Gould. For a discussion of erōs and philia with special reference to homosexual relationships (the context in which erōs and philia are examined in the Lysis), see K. J. Dover, Greek Homosexuality (London 1978), pp. 49–54. Compare also Hyland.

4. At 206a Socrates addresses Hippothales as ‘my friend’ (phile). This is the only occurrence of any philia-related term before the entry of Lysis and Menexenus into the dialogue, but it has no connection with Hippothales’ relationship with Lysis.

5. See Dover, op. cit., p. 16.