Black-figure lekythos with symposium scene: The depicted figures involve a man on a couch and a woman who plays kithara or lyre. Women did not take part in symposia, unless they were musicians (auletrides: aulos players), dancers or courtesans. The symposium was not a mere gathering aiming at entertainment, but was accompanied by a variety of events and frequently culminated in philosophical debates. It is dated to the 5th c. BC.