Symposium

In ancient Greece, the symposium (Greek: συμπόσιον symposion, from συμπίνειν sympinein, "to drink together") was a drinking party. Literary works that describe or take place at a symposium include two Socratic dialogues, Plato's Symposium and Xenophon's Symposium, as well as a number of Greek poems such as the elegies of Theognis of Megara. Symposia are depicted in Greek and Etruscan art that shows similar scenes.

The equivalent in Roman society is the Latin convivium.

Setting and social occasion

The Greek symposium was a key Hellenic social institution. It was a forum for men of respected families to debate, plot, boast, or simply to revel with others. They were frequently held to celebrate the introduction of young men into aristocratic society. Symposia were also held by aristocrats to celebrate other special occasions, such as victories in athletic and poetic contests. They were a source of pride for them.

Symposia were usually held in the andrōn (ἀνδρών), the men's quarters of the household. The participants, or "symposiasts", would recline on pillowed couches arrayed against the three walls of the room away from the door. Due to space limitations the couches would number between seven and nine, limiting the total number of participants to somewhere between fourteen and twenty seven (Oswyn Murray gives a figure of between seven and fifteen couches and reckons fourteen to thirty participants a "standard size for a drinking group"). If any young men took part they did not recline but sat up. However, in Macedonian symposia the focus was not only on drinking but hunting, and young men were allowed to recline only after they had killed their first wild boar.

Koffi Olomide

Antoine Christophe Agbepa Mumba, also known as Koffi Olomide (born 13 July 1956), is a DR Congolese soukous singer, dancer, producer, and composer. Koffi has had several gold records in his musical career. He is the founder of the Quartier Latin International orchestra with many notable artists including Fally Ipupa and Ferré Gola.

Background

Olomide was born on Friday 13 July 1956, in Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo. His mother named him Koffi because he was born on a Friday. He grew up in a middle-class family, without any musical background. During his youth, Olomide would improvise by singing popular songs with his own lyrics and altered rhythms until a neighbor taught him how to play the guitar.

Education

Described by fellow students and his teachers alike as "a very bright student," Olomide got a scholarship to study in Bordeaux, France where he obtained a Bachelor's degree in Business Economics. He is also reported to hold a master's degree in Mathematics from the University of Paris.

Symposium (Plato)

The Symposium (Ancient Greek: Συμπόσιον) is a philosophical text by Plato dated c. 385–370 BC. It concerns itself at one level with the genesis, purpose and nature of love, and (in latter-day interpretations) is the origin of the concept of Platonic love.

Love is examined in a sequence of speeches by men attending a symposium, or drinking party. Each man must deliver an encomium, a speech in praise of Love (Eros). The party takes place at the house of the tragedian Agathon in Athens. Socrates in his speech asserts that the highest purpose of love is to become a philosopher or, literally, a lover of wisdom. The dialogue has been used as a source by social historians seeking to throw light on life in ancient Athens, in particular upon sexual behavior, and the symposium as an institution.

Literary form

The Symposium was written as a dramatic dialogue – a form used by Plato in more than thirty works – and, according to Walter Hamilton, it is his most perfect one. Set in Athenian social life, it develops the themes of love and also of Socrates' character. There is little doubt that the content of the dialogue is fictitious, although Plato has built a very realistic atmosphere.

EBS Symposium

The EBS Symposium is an economic congress organized solely by students of the EBS Universität für Wirtschaft und Recht and it is one of the biggest collegiate events in Germany with 1000+ participants each year. During the Symposium various events take place on the campus. Besides topical speeches of renowned people, the participants also have the opportunity to visit the Recruiting Fair in order to get in contact with companies. During the panel discussions they can discuss with several high-ranking personalities from the worlds of business, society and politics and on the Innovations Fair they are introduced to new, creative products by up-and-coming, innovative companies.

History

In 1989, three student initiatives founded the economic symposium under the name of “Pro 90”. The idea and goal behind this event was the convergence and entering into dialog of students of different branches of study and representatives of politics, science and economics.

The first EBS Symposium was conducted under the topic of “Made in Germany – a term to be redefined” and received fantastic responses from students and participants alike. From then on, the students' aim was to establish their project as a fixed annual event at the European Business School (EBS) - and they succeeded. For the first time, in 1992, the “Bankenforum” was organized by students. This international event focused its attention on financial issues.