Aspesia The Hidden Teacher of Socrates
Aspasia of Miletus: The Woman Who Schooled Socrates and Shook Ancient Athens
Step aside, Socrates, because today we’re talking about your teacher—a woman who was not only brilliant but also had the audacity to exist in ancient Athens as both smart and unapologetically influential. Meet Aspasia of Miletus, a rhetorician, philosopher, and all-around boss who defied the Athenian patriarchy long before it was cool. Buckle up, because this story has everything: scandal, philosophy, and a hefty dose of feminist rage.
A Girl From Miletus With Big Philosophical Energy
Aspasia wasn’t your average 5th-century BCE gal. Born in Miletus (modern-day Turkey), she hit the jackpot of birthrights: a philosopher dad who actually thought teaching his daughter was a good idea. Thanks to him, Aspasia grew up immersed in philosophy, rhetoric, and probably more books than the average Athenian guy could spell.
Fast forward to her early 20s, when Miletus was falling apart thanks to Persian invasions. Aspasia fled to Athens armed with little more than her dad’s writings and her big brain. There, she entered the social scene… and by "social scene," I mean she became BFFs with Socrates, Pericles, and other big shots of Athenian intellect.
Yes, you read that right: Socrates. The guy we’re all forced to study in Philosophy 101. She taught him. Let’s let that sink in.
Power Couple Goals… or a Scandal Waiting to Happen?
Before we get into the misogynistic smear campaigns against Aspasia, let’s talk about her situationship with Pericles—the leading statesman of Athens (and my personal nickname for him: Perry the Platypus). Pericles was so smitten that he divorced his wife to be with her. Did they marry? Maybe. Did they set Athens’ gossip mill on fire? Absolutely.
Because Aspasia was a foreigner, a woman, and a philosopher, Athenians couldn’t handle her. Some claimed she seduced Pericles for power (cue eye roll), while others accused her of teaching women "immoral" ideas in her salons. Spoiler alert: teaching women how to think for themselves was apparently the 5th-century BCE equivalent of burning down the establishment.
Aspasia’s School for Brainy Babes
Here’s what Aspasia actually did: she hosted salons where the brightest minds of Athens—including elite women—could gather to learn rhetoric and philosophy. Imagine an ancient TED Talk but with more goblets of wine and fewer tech bros. She also helped women manage their households… not in the "here’s how to make bread" way, but in the "here’s how to run an estate like the CEO you are" way.
Oh, and she weighed in on philosophical disputes between people like Xenophon and his wife. She taught that being the best husband and wife for each other was the key to happiness. Groundbreaking stuff, right? Apparently, for ancient Athens, it was.
Haters Gonna Hate: The Aspasia Smear Campaign
Now let’s address the elephant in the room: why don’t we hear more about Aspasia? Because the ancient world was run by insecure dudes. Enter Aristophanes, the comedic poet who’s basically the OG internet troll. He accused Aspasia of everything from starting wars to corrupting Athenian women. One of his greatest hits? Calling her a courtesan (fancy word for "s*x worker") rather than the philosopher she was.
And it wasn’t just him. Even Socrates’ students got in on the hate train. One, Antisthenes (or, as I like to call him, Anti-Fun), was so bitter about Aspasia’s success that he wrote some of the pettiest slander in ancient history. Apparently, Pericles kissing Aspasia goodbye every day was a sign he was a "weak ruler." Toxic masculinity, party of one.
The Legacy They Tried to Erase
Despite centuries of slander, Aspasia’s influence is undeniable. She’s mentioned in Plato’s works, and her teachings left a mark on everyone from Socrates to Xenophon. But unlike Socrates, whose students preserved his legacy, Aspasia’s work was dismissed, erased, or reframed as a joke. When ancient writers praised her, it was often waved off as sarcasm. When they criticized her, it was treated as gospel truth. Funny how that works, huh?
Even today, she’s largely absent from philosophy and rhetoric curriculums. But let’s be clear: Aspasia deserves to be remembered not as someone’s "consort," but as a pioneering thinker who challenged Athenian norms and paved the way for women to speak up in public spaces.
Why You Should Care (And How to Support This Work)
Aspasia’s story isn’t just ancient history; it’s a reminder of how easily women’s contributions can be erased. By learning about her, we’re reclaiming her legacy—and making space for other overlooked women in history. If you want to help continue this mission, consider supporting us on Patreon. Your contributions help us keep digging into history, one badass woman at a time.
And remember: Socrates may have had the beard, but Aspasia had the brains. Let’s give credit where it’s due.
