Prisoner of History, Aspasia of Miletus and Her Biographical Traditions

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Prisoner of History, Aspasia of Miletus and Her Biographical Traditions Madeleine E. Henry the author of Prisoner of History, Aspasia of Miletus and Her Biographical Traditions book was supported by Iowa State University (Henry, 1995); Mrs. Henry received grants from the university to conduct the research on her book along with other supporters such as the Women’s Classical Caucus. Mrs. Henry also had the manuscripts for the book read by Oxford University Press. Even though there was not much history on Aspasia, the works that were defined by her sexual reputation as a harlot was depicted in comedy, philosophy, art and historiography. When reading about Aspasia and the authors objective it covers her life history, through facts, that where known. Even though little was known comedy seems to fill in the unknown facts and dialectic of her life. Mrs. Henry wants to clarify Aspasia existents and why she was misunderstood. Aspasia was not only a woman beauty but an important woman of Athens history in fifth century but also a person who played a key role in the intellectual development of Greece. I believe that she captivated this through known history facts through her first marriage which lasted a couple of years to Lysicles and then her relationship sexual ownership to Pericles. Mrs. Henry research on Aspasia birth and education leads us to believe that he was in line of lintier with the Aristocrats. Aspasia was born in the ancient Greek city of Miletus. Her father was named Axiochus her mother’s name is unknown. Nevertheless, during this same era, the stories where told by comedy through several poets including; Cratinus, Eupolis, Hermippus and Aristophanes. The surviving ancient sources for fifth century Athenian history do not permit a connected biography of Aspasia. The most reliable sources are a few notices in contemporary Athenian comic literature
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