Editing Plato (section)

===Thirty tyrants and Trial of Socrates===
{{see also|Thirty tyrants|Trial of Socrates}}
According to the [[Seventh Letter]], whose authenticity has been disputed, as Plato came of age, he imagined for himself a life in public affairs.<ref>Plato (?), ''Seventh Letter'', 324c</ref> In 404, Sparta defeated Athens at the conclusion of the Peloponessian war, leading to the election of the [[Thirty Tyrants]], which included two of Plato's relatives, Critias and Charmides.{{sfn|Nails|2006|p=2-3}} Plato himself was invited to join the administration, but declined, and quickly became disillusioned by the atrocities committed by the Thirty, especially when they tried to implicate Socrates in their seizure of the democratic general [[Leon of Salamis]] for [[summary execution]].{{sfn|Waterfield|2023|p=65-66}}

In 403 BC, the democracy was restored after the regrouping of the democrats in exile, who entered the city through the [[Piraeus]] and met the forces of the Thirty at the [[Battle of Munychia]], where both Critias and Charmides were killed. In 401 BC the restored democrats raided [[Eleusis]] and killed the remaining oligarchic supporters, suspecting them of hiring mercenaries.{{sfn|Nails|2006|p=4}}

As depicted in the many dialogues that are set between 401 and 399 BC, life largely returned to normal in Athens. However, [[Trial of Socrates|the prosecution of Socrates]] by Anytus put an end to Plato's plans for a political career.{{sfn|Waterfield|2023|p=66}}