Meletus, a great poet, initiated new prosecution facing Socrates, regardless if most students imagine him to a “puppet” of the best-recognized and more than important of one’s about three accusers, Anytus. The affidavit pledged out-by Meletus produced a few related charge up against Socrates: “declining to distinguish brand new gods identified by the official and of starting the newest and other gods” and you will “corrupting the new youthfulness.”
Plato regarding the Euthyphro relates to Meletus, the fresh new youngest of the around three accusers, since the which have “good beak, and you can enough time upright hair, and you can a mustache which is unwell mature.” Plato composed one, before the prosecution out-of Socrates, Meletus is actually “unknown” so you can him.
From inside the basic about three instances out of trial, Meletus in addition to most other one or two accusers each mounted a tiny phase regarding the laws court in the exact middle of Athens to send speeches to the jury making the situation into guilt of Socrates. No number out-of Meletus’s speech endures. According to partisan membership from Plato throughout the Apology, Socrates–through the their around three-hr protection–inserted to your a move having Meletus and you will succeeded to make your are available as an alternative dark-witted.