Plato Is “The Rock”?

Ever since I learned that Plato’s name wasn’t actually Plato, I’ve been unable to think about him in a normal, respectable, toga-adjacent way. “Plato,” it turns out, was a nickname—roughly meaning “broad,” possibly referring to his shoulders, which suggests that one of the foundational figures of Western philosophy may also have been built like a professional wrestler.

In other words, Plato may have been ancient Greece’s version of The Rock.

This raises several important and entirely scholarly questions. For example: did Plato, before delivering The Republic, pause to raise one eyebrow at the Athenian crowd? Did Socrates ever get interrupted mid-dialogue by Plato entering with entrance music and a folding chair? We can’t know for sure, mainly because historians have tragically failed to document Plato’s finishing move.

But the parallels are hard to ignore. Both men:

• Had iconic nicknames that overshadowed their given names.

• Were known for commanding attention in large public settings.

• Delivered speeches that people still quote today, although in Plato’s case, fewer of them involve phrases like “can you smell what I’m cooking.”

Also, both seemed deeply invested in the idea of truth—Plato through rigorous philosophical inquiry, and The Rock through informing us, with absolute certainty, what exactly we are and are not smelling.

Of course, there are differences. Plato founded the Academy, one of the first institutions of higher learning. The Rock, to my knowledge, has not founded a school, although if he did, I assume attendance would be mandatory and classes would include Advanced Eyebrow Techniques and Intro to Charisma 101.

Still, it’s comforting to know that across thousands of years, humanity continues to produce influential figures who combine intellectual or physical dominance with excellent branding. Both understood a fundamental truth: if you want people to remember your ideas, it helps to have a really good nickname. (FYI: His real name was Aristocles)

Want to step into the world of The Crimson Plains? I’m inviting a few readers to become part of the story as pioneering neighbors in Book Two. If you’d like your name to appear in the series, just drop a comment on this post. I’ll be selecting at least one name to weave into the frontier—so this is your chance to leave your mark on the Plains.

I’m writing the last few chapters now, so this offer is only open for the next two weeks. Comment now to submit the name of your choice. All comments will be considered, but only one is guaranteed to be chosen. :)

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Great news for my Portuguese-speaking readers: my books are now available in Portuguese. If you—or someone you know—prefers reading in Portuguese, this is the perfect time to dive into the story in a whole new way. Same worlds, same characters, now in a language that brings a different rhythm and flavor to the adventure.

For my Italian readers, I’m excited to share that the books are now available in Italian as well. Whether you’re rediscovering the story or experiencing it for the first time, the Italian editions are ready for you. If Italian is your language—or you’re learning—it’s a great way to explore the series from a fresh perspective.

Every month, I participate in promotions with other Indie Authors. We don’t have major marketing departments and bookstores to share our work, so we have to rely on each other and mostly word of mouth advertising. Book shares, like the two below, allow us to make some of our books available for free or discounted so we can cross-promote with other authors to grow our reader base. Greatly appreciate you taking a look and choosing some of these books to read. :)