ASPASIA OF MILETUS

Aspasia of Miletus (l. c. 470-410/400 BCE) is best known as the consort of the great Athenian statesman
Pericles. Her life story has always been given in the shadow of Pericles’ fame, but she was a woman of
great eloquence and intelligence in her own right who influenced many of the writers, thinkers, and
statesmen of her time. She was not only remembered for her captivating beauty, but also for her
captivating mind. Socrates himself called Aspasia his teacher and relates he learned from her how to
construct persuasive speeches. After all, he tells us, she wrote them for Pericles.She plays a verbal role
in at least three philosophical dialogues written by students of Socrates: Plato’s Menexenus and the
fragmentary Aspasia dialogues by Aeschines and Antisthenes.

Aspasia was born in the Greek city of Miletus (in today’s province Aydın, Turkey) and it is assumed that
her family was quite wealthy due to the excellent education the young woman received. It is not certain,
how or why Aspasia came to Athens, but many historical scientists assume that she might have ran a
brothel. Still, she differed from most Athenian women due to her incredible intelligence and her
independence. Since Aspasia was a foreigner, she was free of the legal restraints that traditionally
confined married women to their homes and allowed to participate in the city’s public life. Aspasia
became a well known person in the streets of Athens, especially for her ability to make conversations
and according to Plutarch, Aspasia’s and Pericles‘ house became a center for intellectuals in Athens. It is
assumed that even Socrates spent much time discussing in their home.

Although little is known about her because she vanished from history circa 401 BCE, Aspasia of Miletus
was perhaps the foremother of classical rhetoric as she is rumored to have taught rhetoric and home
economics to Socrates. Her social position was that of a hetaera, or companion who was “more
educated than respectable women, and [was] expected to accompany men on occasions where
conversation with a woman was appreciated, but wives were not welcome” (Carlson 30). Her specialty
was philosophy and politics and she became the only female member of the elite Periclean circle that
included the most prominent Sophists of the day. In the circle she made both friends and enemies as a
result of her political savvy and public speaking ability.

Ancient writers from Aristophanes (l. c. 460 - c. 380 BCE) to Plato (l. 428/427-348/347 BCE) to Plutarch (l.
c. 45/50 - c. 120/125 CE) reference her eloquence and power in controlling men, and this established
her reputation as none of her own works, if she actually wrote any, have survived. In the 19th and 20th
centuries, mainly owing to the literary works of Walter Savage Landor (l. 1775-1864) and Gertrude
Atherton (l. 1857-1948), respectively, Aspasia came to be viewed as a romantic heroine of the Golden
Age of Athens and she and Pericles as exemplifying the romantic couple.