Aspasia

Who was Aspasia?

Aspasia was a Milesian woman who spent most of her adult life in Greece. Few details of her life are fully known. Scholars conclude that she came from a wealthy educated family. Aspasia is often linked with the Athenian statesman Pericles. The couple had a son Pericles the Young, but the full details of the couple's marital status are unknown. Aspasia's role in history provides crucial insight to the understanding of the women of Ancient Greece. There is very little known about women from her time period. In fact, one scholar stated that, To ask questions about Aspasia, is to ask questions about half of humanity. Some scholars suggest that Aspasia was a brothel keeper and a harlot. However, it is also to be noted that Aspasia was mentioned in the writing of philosophers Plato, Aristophanes, Xenophon, and other authors of the day. It has also been suggested that the teachings of Aspasia influenced Socrates.