A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country/Aspasia
ASPASIA, a Courtesan of Athens, Mistress and Wife of Pericles.
The education of the Grecian ladies in general, and particularly the Athenians, from their secluded lives, was scarcely superior to that of their female slaves, with whom they lived, shut up in a part of the house appropriated to them; associating little with one another, and scarcely at all with the men, even their nearest relations; seldom appearing in public, but at those religious festivals, in which ancient custom prescribed that the women should bear a part. To this cause must be attributed that comparative superiority through which some of the Grecian courtesans attained extraordinary renown. Carefully instructed in every elegant accomplishment, and, from early years, accustomed to converse with men, even of the highest rank and most approved talents; if they possessed understanding, it became cultivated, and their houses were resorted to, not merely in the low pursuit of pleasure, but often to enjoy, in the most polished society, the charms of female conversation, which, with women of rank and character, was totally forbidden.
Aspasia was a Milesian, the daugliter of Axiochus, for her celebrity has preserved her father's name. With uncommon beauty were joined, in Aspasia, still more uncommon talents; wit, natural eloquence, improved by study, a perfect knowledge of moral philosophy, and great skill in poetry; and, with a mind thus cultivated, she possessed manners so decent, that, in more advanced years, not only Socrates professed to have learned eloquence of her, but the Athenian ladies used to accompany their husbands to her house, for the instruction of her conversation, which was not more brilliant than solid. Pericles, the enlightened ruler of Athens, became her most passionate admirer. He passed his little leisure from public business mostly in company with Aspasia and a few select friends, avoiding that extensive society in which the Athenians in general delighted. Some say that Pericles made his court to Aspasia only on account of her wisdom and political abilities. It was even believed by the most intelligent Athenians, and, among them, by Socrates himself, that she composed the celebrated funeral oration pronounced by him in honour of those that were slain in the Salamian war. (It is well known he used to write down all his speeches before he pronounced them). It is probable enough that Pericles undertook that war to avenge the quarrels of the Milesians, at the suggestion of Aspasia, who was their countrywoman, and is said to have accompanied him in this expedition, and to have built a temple to perpetuate the memory of his victory.
Plutarch relates that Pericles and his wife living very unhappily together, they parted; she was married to another, and he to Aspasia, for whom he had the tenderest regard. This connection was not likely to escape satire. She was called, on the public stage, the Omphale of her time, the Dejanira, and even the Juno. Many circumstances of the administration were malevolently attributed to her influence, and much gross abuse and improbable calumny vented against both of them.
Hermippus, a comic poet, prosecuted Aspasia for impiety, which seems, in their idea, to have consisted in disputing the existence of their imaginary gods, and introducing new opinions about celestial appearances. But she was acquitted, though much against the tenor of the law, by means of Pericles, who, (according to Eschines), shed many tears in his application for mercy in her behalf.
After the death of Pericles, at the age of 70, 1429, B. C. we hear nothing of her, but that Lysicles, a grazier, by his intercourse with her, became the most considerable man in Athens.
The eloquence of this accomplished woman, the power which she obtained over the mind of Pericles, and (if we may judge from his actions) that power was exerted for laudable purposes, and the high terms in which she was spoken of, even by philosophers, entitle her to admiration, though mingled with regret.