#Aspasia

[fishing-lesbian-catgirl]

Never kill yourself, there are free beverages waiting for you to drink

[blue-mono]

Assassin's Creed: Odyssey & Twitter (3/?)

[whencyclopedia]

Aspasia of Miletus

Aspasia of Miletus (l. c. 470-410/400 BCE) is best known as the consort of the great Athenian statesman Pericles. Her life story has always been given in the shadow of Pericles' fame, but she was a woman of great eloquence and intelligence in her own right who influenced many of the writers, thinkers, and statesmen of her time.

She was a metic (a person not born in Athens) and, accordingly, was not allowed to marry an Athenian and had to pay a tax to live in Athens, but it is most likely because of her foreign status that she was not constrained by Athenian policies regarding women's behavior. She bore Pericles (l. 495-429 BCE) a son (Pericles the Younger, l. c. 440-406 BCE) out of wedlock, taught men and women, and seems to have lived freely however she pleased.

This much is known as well as that she lived, wrote, and worked in Athens c. 450 - c. 428 BCE and operated a salon of some sort, but little else can be said for certain. It is not even known if Aspasia (pronounced Ahs-pah-SEE-uh) was her actual name or a "professional name" as she was famous as a hetaira (a high-class courtesan), and her name means "greeting with affection" or "welcome" or "desired one" according to various translations. Scholars almost universally agree that Aspasia was not the woman's birth name.

Ancient writers from Aristophanes (l. c. 460 - c. 380 BCE) to Plato (l. 424/423-348/347 BCE) to Plutarch (l. c. 45/50 - c. 120/125 CE) reference her eloquence and power in controlling men, and this established her reputation as none of her own works, if she actually wrote any, have survived. In the 19th and 20th centuries, mainly owing to the literary works of Walter Savage Landor (l. 1775-1864) and Gertrude Atherton (l. 1857-1948), respectively, Aspasia came to be viewed as a romantic heroine of the Golden Age of Athens and she and Pericles as exemplifying the romantic couple.

She is recognized as an important figure today as she defied the restrictive policies of Athenian society regarding women (who were seen as second-class citizens) to live her life according to her own vision. In the modern era, she is understood as an intellectual and teacher of enormous ability whose influence on famous male writers and thinkers of her day was significant.

Ancient & Modern Depictions

Whoever Aspasia was, it seems clear she was a woman of impressive accomplishments; even if it remains unclear precisely what those accomplishments were. Although ancient writers allude to her influence over others (such as Socrates, for example), few details are given as to what aspects of others' works should be credited to her.

The claim that she wrote Pericles' famous Funeral Oration cannot be substantiated and, in fact, was originally made as a slur. She vanished from the history of rhetoric for this very reason: the inability of later scholars to identify her with any given extant works.

It has been noted by scholar Madeleine M. Henry that Aspasia is depicted by ancient writers according to those writers' individual biases and so a clear picture of who she was and what she accomplished is almost impossible to grasp. Henry comments:

When we need Aspasia to be a chaste muse and teacher, she is there; when we need a grand horizontal, she is there, when we need a proto feminist, she is there also. (128)

Ancient writers from Plato to Plutarch have characterized her according to their own particular need, and so a modern reader must sift and measure the various accounts in an attempt to come to terms with who Aspasia may have been. A standard depiction of her in modern times reads:

A contributor to learning in Athens, Aspasia of Miletus (c. 470-401/400 BCE) boldly surpassed the limited expectations for women by establishing a renowned girl's school and a popular salon. She lived free of female seclusion and conducted herself like a male intellectual while expounding on current events, philosophy, and rhetoric. Her fans included the philosopher Socrates and his followers, the teacher Plato, the orator Cicero, the historian Xenophon, the writer Athenaeus, and the statesman and general Pericles, her adoring common-law husband (The Oxford Classical Dictionary, 1992).

Ancient depictions, however, vary from Aristophanes' comical charge in his Acharnians that Aspasia started the Peloponnesian War over the abduction of "two whores" of hers to Plato's image of her in his Menexenus where she is Socrates' teacher in rhetoric. It should be noted that the Menexenus is a satirical dialogue and when the character of Menexenus says, "I marvel that Aspasia, who is only a woman, should be able to compose such a speech," Plato is most certainly writing tongue in cheek (Menexenus, 235e).

While Aspasia herself wrote nothing extant, her influence is thought to be apparent in the works of her contemporaries and later writers, but this claim is based on circumstantial evidence since, as noted, it is unclear what works she may have actually contributed to. Scholar Joyce E. Salisbury provides the scenario others point to in claiming Aspasia's influence:

Aspasia's house quickly became the fashionable place for gentlemen of quality to gather. Politicians, playwrights, philosophers, artists, and literary celebrities passed through her doors, and she came to know the most famous architects of the Athenian golden age. (23)

Scholar I. M. Plant contributes to this claim while qualifying how much remains unknown of Aspasia's life and work:

Aspasia is one of the most famous women of classical Greece, yet little is known of her life, and most of what was written about her in her own day is dubious. As the partner of Pericles, Athens' leading statesman in the mid-fifth century BC, Aspasia moved in the highest aristocratic circles and attracted the attention of comic and serious writers. She inspired literary personae which in turn led to the creation of pseudonymous works in her name. (41)

None of these pseudonymous works have survived but are referenced by other writers who either praise or blame Aspasia for her influence over powerful men. Plutarch consistently praises the accomplishments of Pericles and blames any of his mistakes on Aspasia. At one point, in his Life of Pericles, Plutarch seems to wonder aloud:

What great art or power this woman had, that she managed as she pleased the foremost men of the state and afforded the philosophers occasion to discuss her in exalted terms and at great length. (24.1)

Plutarch's question seems to have been asked by many of Aspasia's contemporaries and those who followed after. The philosopher Aeschines of Sphettus (l. c. 425 - c. 350 BCE) seems to answer this by presenting her as a clever speaker and an intellectual of note who made a lasting impression on those who heard her speak. Like Plato, Aeschines of Sphettus wrote philosophical dialogues, including an Aspasia, but these have been lost. All we know of his thoughts on Aspasia come from later writers who have also provided the few details of her life.

Continue reading...

[ilovecuntyoldladies]

the target audience for this is completely dead but. i thought it was funny.

[kebriones]

yeah sure I'll think about that for the next 35 minutes

[mongeroffanfics]

Assassins creed Odyssey characters and affection- non cultist addition

Nikolaos

The wolf has grown old and weary after a lifetime of war, and loosing most of his family. In general, he was never a touchy man, he just.. didn’t want to be affectionate.

Don’t get me wrong, he cares about you, but even Stentor rarely got affection. A pat on the shoulder from him is his equivalent of cuddling at this rate- if he doesn’t trust or like you he is not touching you.

Stentor

Like his adopted father, Stentor is not super affectionate. He is, however, far more affectionate than Nikolaos, he will pull you into a sort of half hug if he likes you enough.

He’s still a Spartan, though, so generally you’re getting headlocked or being forced into a sparring match for ‘bonding’

Kassandra

The eagle bearer is also not super affectionate, she’s a little hesitant to start being affectionate- but once she does start? She’s still not super affectionate

She’s a lot like her step father, generally a pat to the shoulder, but with the occasional hug if she can sense that you need it.

Barnabas

Barnabas is very touchy, when he talks to you his hands are moving wildly, or he’s grabbing your shoulders or forearms to keep your attention.

He’s the hugger out of this game, you’re in his arms most days, his head on your shoulder as he tells you about all of his adventures, and everyone he’s met over the years.

Brasidas

For a Spartan, he’s actually quite affectionate! And by that I mean you’re being yanked into bone crushing hugs whenever he spots you (beware of him in public- he’s not above tackling).

More often then not, he has an arm around your shoulders, constantly staking a claim on you as he believes you’re too precious- and others will try and hurt you if neither of you are careful.

Perikles and Aspasia

Perikles is not super great with affection, he’s also very shitty at being social. He has a pinky linked with you most days, practically dragging you along wherever he goes or having you as a support during his speeches.

Aspasia is super sweet, bringing you down to parties and social gatherings, encouraging you to meet Sokrates and all of the other great minds. She’s always hovering near you, her arm brushed against your own.

Lysander

Another Spartan man- another prick. Dont try and touch him, he is not fond of anything physical and will take it as you trying to attack him. If anything the most affection you’ll get, is you getting body slammed into the floor.

You think you’re going crazy hearing someone walking behind you- nope! It’s him, grabbing your arm and fucking throwing you. In his defense he will protect you with his life, he’s just a bit of a dick about it.

[apolunatic]

2025 npc wishlist

[krimreader]

Ok I got to the meeting Aspasia part of the replay, and there are only 2 things going through my mind:

1. She's so pretty, I keep forgetting how evil she is

2. Girlie really spent her time going around smirking evilly at everyone, and no one noticed anything

[low-budget-korra]

Realistic Portraits of Assassin's Creed Odyssey

okay, this one was, though. The toughest that I've done because even tho AC Odyssey give us realistic faces, they were also kinda of not that realistic? And they were very specifics, so I did the same I've done with the Avatar Realistic Portraits, trying to match the ethnicity based on what I've sawed in the game.

I've also tried to make some characters look older or younger. Like Kass is older than Alexios cuz she is the protagonist, or me aging up Myrrine... Enjoy.

Kassandra and Alexios

Barnabas and Homero

Myrrine and Nikolaus

Stentor and Brasidas

Aspasia and Pheobe

Markos and Xenia

Kyra and Perikles

Sokrates and Alkibiades

Bonus: Layla Hassan and Ikaros(human version)

[someday-dreamlands]

𝑺ó𝒄𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒃𝒖𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒐 𝒂 𝑨𝒍𝒄𝒊𝒃í𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒔 𝒆𝒏 𝒄𝒂𝒔𝒂 𝒅𝒆 𝑨𝒔𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒊𝒂 (𝑱𝒆𝒂𝒏-𝑳é𝒐𝒏 𝑮é𝒓ô𝒎𝒆, 1861)

[angelicsnowlily]

LESBIANS WIP

[softlenaluthor]

I like my women a lil bratty, somewhat morally ambiguous, and teetering on the brink of a victim complex and I say this with nothing but love in my heart‼️

they all happen to be in positions of power too I hope this doesn’t awaken anything in me🧎🏻‍♀️

and yes I know that they were responsible for bad things but have you considered this? I love them😭

[blue-mono]

Tag yourself : AC Odyssey NPCs

[attichoney4u]

Based on this post from @suburbanbeatnik. There are some others that unfortunately I couldn't mention due to limited space, so I picked the most famous/the ones I liked the most.

[ilovecuntyoldladies]

Imagine saying the words, “what i plan will require you to trust me” and “come with me” to a bitch who just. Killed all your cult members. One by one. Everyone. And you know what else?? That's the same bitch whose younger sibling your cult tortured and groomed for years. Did I mention that the Cult—yes, the one you willingly joined and later controlled—got said bitch thrown off mount taygetos at the age of, what, ten? Oh, and wasn't it also your very own miscalculation that youRRrRr cult guards killed the little orphan girl the bitch in question was taking care of like a little sister?? 🤠

Like?? The nerve?? The audacity??

And you know what? It worked.

[moghedien]

i'm trying to remember at what point I realized that Aspasia was the Ghost of the Kosmos, because I know I definitely figured it out before the reveal and I *think* I even assumed it before the part where you have to help her flee Athens

but I just got to the part where I met her again in this playthrough and some of her comments make it VERY obvious that she was at least part of the Cult and I do not remember picking up on those first time