Aspasia

(flourished 5th century BC) Mistress of Pericles and a vivid figure in Athenian society. Originally from Miletus, she lived with Pericles from c. 445 BC until his death in 429. Because she was not a citizen, their son was initially denied civic rights. Though an intellectual admired by Socrates, she endured public attacks, especially in comic theatre, for her private life and her supposed influence on Pericles' foreign policy.

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