Aspasia case study

Question 1

where was aspasia born

Answer 1

miletus

Question 2

what was aspasia’s resident status

Answer 2

metic

Question 3

what was aspais’s occupation

Answer 3

hetaria and brothel keeper

Question 4

for 15 years who did aspasia live with

Answer 4

perciles

Question 5

who was perciles

Answer 5

the most famous politician at the time

Question 6

what did oerciles do to his wife

Answer 6

divorce her to marry aspasia

Question 7

what was she admired for

Answer 7

philosphical and political discussion and men listen and take advice

Question 8

what is the prescribed source that is dedicated to aspasia

Answer 8

pluutarch parallel lives, life of perciles 24

Question 9

when was plutrach parallel lives,life of periciles 24

Answer 9

1sr centurary AD

Question 10

what genre is plutrach parallel live,life of perciles 24

Answer 10

biography

Question 11

what is the significance of plutarch writing this

Answer 11

part of a great biographical project in which two lives are contrasted in pairs

Question 12

was Plutarch concerned with historical facts

Answer 12

plutarch was also less concerned wit accurate historical facts and more concerned with writing lives that could illustrate moral lessons.we therefore need to be careful when using plutarch as a source of evidience of aspasia’s life and athenian prostituatuion

Question 13

what is a rhetoric

Answer 13

the art of effective or persuasive speaking (or writing),especially the exploitation of figures of speech and other compositional techniques.

Question 14

What can we learn about Ancient Greek views of ‘improper women’ through our study of Aspasia?

Answer 14

Despite her status as a brothel keeper and a hetaira, Aspasia was valued for her intellect.
Normally women who worked as a hetaira and brothel keeper would not have such a great influence over the decisions of men or be able to participate in their conversations as actively as Aspasia did.This also shows us that Aspasia was exceptional, so other prostitutes (porne and hetaira) would not have influence and their opinions would not be valued.However, Aspasia is also still looked down upon for being a prostituteThe references to Aspasia being compared to other women in comedies depicts her as ambitious, powerful over Pericles, and
jealous.

Question 15

What can we learn about Ancient Greek views of ‘improper women’ through our study of Neaira?

Answer 15

Neaira was an enslaved person, and her treatment throughout her life reflects this, as she was treated like a possession and her personal needs were not considered, she was exploited for the benefit of others. Neaira was only valued for her beauty.

Question 16

“Since he [Pericles] seems to have acted like this against the Samians in order to please Aspasia.” - plutarch,parrell lives, life of perciles what does it mean ?

Answer 16

Aspasia has such great influence of Pericles that it affects his decisions politically and militarily.

Question 17

“they say that she, in order to out-do a certain Thargalia of ancient Ionia targeted the most powerful men. For Thargalia, having both exceptional beauty and grace,lived with an astonishing number of
Greek men, whilst attaching all her associates to the King of Persia, and in the cities implanted bias towards the Persians through these men, the greatest and most powerful leaders.” plutach,parrell of lives,life of perciles - what does it mean