True poetry is the work of the gods, and humans are merely their mouthpieces when they are inspired. Socrates says that the god inspires the poet Homer directly and that inspiration comes to Ion through Homer’s poetry, which Ion passes on to whoever watches him recite the poetry. Socrates explains that a magnet endows a metal object with the ability to attract other metal objects, and so on, with the strength of the magnetism becoming weaker as the original magnet gets further away. To explain what he means by inspiration, Socrates uses the metaphor of magnets, claiming “it’s a divine power that moves you, as a ‘Magnetic’ stone moves iron rings” (941). Socrates concludes that Ion can perform and interpret Homer because he is inspired by the gods. But let someone mention Homer and right away I’m wide awake and I’m paying attention and I have plenty to say (940). When someone discusses another poet I pay no attention, and I have no power to contribute anything worthwhile: I simply doze off. Yet Ion maintains that he has no skill at all when it comes to interpreting any poet other than Homer, claiming, They agree that if someone is skilled in a particular art, then they should be able to judge both good and bad examples. But this answer does not satisfy Socrates, who gives examples of other professionals who can judge both the good and the bad of their art, such as mathematicians, doctors, painters, sculptors, and musicians. Ion claims it is because Homer is the best poet. Socrates asks why Ion can interpret only Homer. Ion says that if the poets disagree the best person to interpret them would be an expert on the subject they disagree about.

When Socrates asks if Ion could interpret Homer and Hesiod equally well if they disagree, Ion says he cannot. Socrates wonders why and asks Ion whether he could interpret Homer and Hesiod equally well if the poets agreed on a certain topic. When Ion speaks of his ability to interpret Homer, Socrates inquires whether he can interpret other poets as well. He says that both are necessary to recite a poem properly. Socrates distinguishes between memorizing a poem and understanding its meaning. Ion agrees that the profession of a rhapsode is enjoyable and claims no one can recite the poetry of Homer as well as he can. As a rhapsode, Ion wears fine clothes, looks beautiful, and spends his days learning and reciting poetry with other rhapsodes and poets (938). Socrates expresses his envy of Ion’s profession. At the festival, Ion participated in contests to determine who was the greatest rhapsode (a type of poet, actor, singer, and performer).

Ion of Ephesus arrives in Athens from Epidaurus, where he has just attended the festival of Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine.

Ion by plato