Throughout history many great contributors have either been eliminated or left out of the western history, most of which are women, one being Aspasia of Miletus. Aspasia came to Athens from Miletus, she was a highly educated women, from a literate family. Aspasia is definetly an exception to the normal young women of the 5th century, in which most women were not educated to any extent. Aspasia's accomplishments are numerous and her knowledge and influence has effected many great minds and thinkers including Plato, Pericles, and Socrates. For Aspasia, being a non-Athenian, excluded her from the law that governed Athenian women, and enabled her to live outside of these laws, making it possible for her to distinguish herself as a great writer, rhetorician and philosipher. Because there is no physical works of Aspasia available, all of Aspasia's work has survived only through the voice of the men in which she influenced. Much of Aspasia's work was heard through the voice of her lover Pericles. Aspasia is well known for her courtesian salon, a school for girls of wealthy families. This salon was frequented by many great politicians and philosipher, who would gather along with their wives or mistresses to indulge in her knowledge and words. The salon would be used by these men as a way in which to influence and pool intelectual minds. Through her teaching and influence, we have the great works of Socrates, Plato and Pericles, whom are greatly respected for their vast knowledge and contributions.
Aspasia's influence on these great men such as Plato, Xenophon, Cicero, Plutarch, Athenaeus and of course Pericles is very evident in the manner in which these great men contribute much of their own knowledge to the influence of Aspasia. Most obviously Pericles is the one man that Aspasia most deeply influenced, not only by her knowledge but also due to the physical relationship that the two had. One of the great works that Aspasia most influenced Pericles would be his popular Funeral Oration. Pericles ability to orate is greatly credited to Aspasia and her intellectual influence she had on Pericles. Plato also, though not a lover, was greatly impressed and influenced by Aspasia's intellect, as Plato openly credits her for her contribution to Pericles Funeral Oration. Another great admirerer of Aspasia is the the great Sacrates, whom also openly credits Aspasia for Pericles being one of the great Greek orators, in his Menexenus. Socrates also credits Aspasia as one of his own instructors of rhetoric.
Although Aspasia is by no means the only women to contribute so much to the history of rhetoric and philosophy, the men she influenced made it possible for Aspasia's work to be recognized. Not only has Aspasia's work influenced the greats such as Socrates, Plato and Pericles, she will continue to influence the modern writer, philosophers and orators through the works, writings and ideas of these men.
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Created by Lisa Lewis and Robyn Yearby
Feburary 16, 2000