Aspasia of Miletus: The Woman Behind Pericles

Aspasia of Miletus was one of the most influential yet controversial figures in classical Athens. As the companion of Pericles, she ran a salon that attracted thinkers like Socrates and Phidias, and was rumored to have written Pericles' famous Funeral Oration. But who was she really? In this episode, Lucas and Luna delve into the scant historical sources—from Plutarch and Aristophanes to Plato—to separate fact from fiction. They explore her role as a metic woman in a male-dominated democracy, her portrayal as a courtesan or intellectual, and her possible influence on Athenian politics. The episode also examines the comedy that mocked her, the trials that targeted her, and the legacy of a woman who dared to speak in the age of Pericles. #Aspasia #Pericles #AncientGreece #AthenianDemocracy #Metics #Socrates #Plutarch #FuneralOration #GreekComedy #Aristophanes #Plato #Miletus #History #FexingoHistory #WomenInHistory #ClassicalAthens #PeloponnesianWar #Philosophy Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo