Aspasia (flourished 5th century bc) was a mistress of the Athenian statesman Pericles and a vivid figure in Athenian society. Although Aspasia came from the Greek Anatolian city of Miletus and was not a citizen of Athens, she lived with Pericles from about 445 until his death in 429.
Aspasia of Miletus (l. c. 470-410/400 BCE) is best known as the consort of the great Athenian statesman Pericles. Her life story has always been given in the...
Her life and legacy offer a captivating glimpse into the cultural and political dynamics of Athens during its Golden Age. Aspasia was born around 470 BCE in Miletus, a prosperous city on the Ionian coast known for its intellectual and cultural vibrancy.
Aspasia of Miletus became one of the most controversial women of classical Athens during the city’s Golden Age, and her life showed the unique position she held as a foreign-born woman who moved among thinkers and political leaders.
Born in Eastern Greece in the city of Miletus, as a young woman Aspasia sailed across the Aegean Sea and, rounding Cape Sounion, arrived in Athens. There she met Pericles, a general, aristocrat, and political leader.
Aspasia of Miletus, a prominent figure in ancient Athens, was born in the wealthy trading city of Miletus around 470 BCE. She rose to public attention as the intellectual companion and mistress of the statesman Pericles.
Though Aspasia is one of the best-attested women from the Greco-Roman world, and the most important woman in the history of fifth-century Athens, almost nothing is certain about her life. Aspasia's relationship with Pericles began between 452 and 441 BC.