March 12: Women's Month

If you thought that influencers are a modern invention, think again. In ancient Athens lived a remarkable socialite, who created content to promote her and her partner’s democratic convictions. Her name was Aspasia and she was the life companion of Athenian leader Perikles. When she spoke, men listened. Important men, like the well known philosopher Sokrates, who openly admired her wit and insightfulness. As she refused the role of a trad wife, and wasn’t afraid to speak her mind, she was the target of envy and gossip, from men as well as women. It was whispered that Perikles had met her in a brothel, and when he left his wife for her, it caused a huge scandal. But there was no denying that she combined intelligence with exceptional beauty. Soon, her fame reached far beyond Greece itself. According to Xenophon’s novel “Anabasis”, the Persian prince Kyrous adressed his most beloved concubine as Aspasia, while her real name was Milto. Wether either woman took that as a compliment, is not known.

The Debate of Socrates and Aspasia, Nicolas-André Monsiau,

Pushkin Museum, Moscow, Russia

Aspasia, Buste, Museo Pio-Clementino, Vatican, Italy