Underrated Ancient Greek Women

Underrated Ancient Greek women

• Aspasia

Aspasia ,born in 470B.C. in Miletus, was known for her beauty and because of the fact that Pericles, the great politician of Athens fell in love with her. But she was one of the most well-educated women at the time and due to her intelligence, notable philosophers like Socrates wanted to be in her company and converse with her. Her house was always open to artists, philosophers and politicians. Despite her free style of life, Athenians often brought their wives along so they could listen to Aspasia’s speeches and advice.  When she was 25 years old she met the 50-years old Pericles. He was dazzled by the extremely charming and intelligent young lady and soon after they moved in together. She played an important role beside Pericles and influenced his decisions dramatically. Her fame survived through the centuries as one of the most influential personalities of Ancient history.

•Agnodice of Athens

In the 4th century Bc Agnodice was appalled by the number of maternal and perinatal mortalities in the city.

As females could not practise midwifery or medicine, she disguised herself: she cut off her hair, dressed herself as a man and traveled to Alexandria.She studied medicine under Herophilus, a Greek physician, and later returned to Athens to put in practice what she had learnt.

There she met her first female patient in labour and offered to help with the delivery but the woman declined because Agnodice appeared to her as a man.

Then Agnodice removed her clothes, revealing that she was a woman, and was permitted to treat her.She began attending to women this way. But to the other doctors seemed suspicious for women to seek care during their pregnancy by Agnodice, whom they considered as a man.They believed that she was a seducer and corruptor of women and brought her in front of the jury (Areopagus) to stand trial for her supposed actions.She simply removed her clothes to show the court that she was a woman but the men who brought her to court were outraged because she had broken Athenian law by practicing medicine as a woman. So she was sentenced to death!

In response to this, the women of Athens stormed into the court and defended Agnodice, stating: “You are not husbands, but enemies, because you condemn her who discovered safety for us.”

So the Athenians changed the law. Since then, women were allowed to legally study and practice midwifery in Athens.

• Cynisca

Cynisca was born around 440 BC in the Greek city of Sparta, daughter of King Archidamus II, and sister of the future king Agesilaus II.Sparta’s treatment of women differed from the rest of Greece; rather than excluding them from society entirely, women went through rigorous training since the age of six.Cynisca thrived in this competitive environment. However, the ancient Olympic games fobidden women to even view the running amd combat events of the stadium. Her brother later prompted her to join personally the races and she emerged a popular victor, paving the way for many female athletes.

•Phryne of Thespiae

Phryne of Thespiae was a famous courtesan of Athens, best known for the court case she won by baring her breasts. She was praised for her beauty often being compared to the godess Aphrodite. The court case surrounded the charge of impiety, and it has been suggested that, whatever Phryne did, it had something to do with the Eleusinian Mysteries. Her lover Hypereides, defended her in court. At this point Hypereides disrobed Phryne, and the judges were so struck by her beauty that she was acquitted. Some claim that it was Phryne herself, not Hypereides, who removed her clothes and that she also undid her hair to show herself in the likeness of Aphrodite, or when she showed up on court she shaked her hands with every member of the court and pleaded for her life. it was enough of them to be convinced.