Aspasia
Definition
An influential female figure of classical Athens (born in Miletus), renowned for her exceptional intelligence, oratorical skills, and status as the partner of the statesman Pericles; her home became a structural center of culture and philosophy frequented by Socrates, Plato, and Xenophon, deeply influencing Athenian political and intellectual life despite her legal status as a metic.
Bilingual Equivalents
- Aspasia
- Aspasia of Miletus
Grammatical & Source Details
| Inflection Type | Proper feminine noun, singular only, adapting to classic standard declensions. |
| Formation | Ancient Greek name (Aspasía), derived from the descriptive term 'aspasios', translating literally as 'welcome' or 'beloved'. |
| Spelling / Pronunciation | [as.pa.ˈsi.a] |
| Source | Oxford Classical Dictionary and Ancient Gender Studies Index |
Contextual Usage Examples
RO: Plutarh descrie pe larg cum Aspasia era consultată de cei mai importanți oameni politici ai Atenei datorită înțelepciunii ei.
EN: Plutarch describes at length how Aspasia was consulted by the most important politicians of Athens due to her wisdom.
RO: Relația strânsă dintre Pericle și Aspasia a atras numeroase critici și atacuri satirice din partea poeților comediei atice.
EN: The close relationship between Pericles and Aspasia attracted numerous criticisms and satirical attacks from Attic comedy poets.
RO: În dialogul 'Menexenus' de Platon, Socrate glumește afirmând că Aspasia a compus celebrul discurs funebru al lui Pericle.
EN: In Plato's 'Menexenus' dialogue, Socrates jokes, claiming that Aspasia composed Pericles' famous funeral oration.
Idioms & Phrases
Salonul intelectual al Aspasiei / Aspasia's intellectual circle
RO: Grup de discuții filosofice și literare coordonat de aceasta, considerat un prototip antic al saloanelor culturale europene.
EN: A philosophical and literary discussion group coordinated by her, considered an ancient prototype of European cultural salons.
Retorica tip Aspasia / Aspasian rhetoric
RO: Stil argumentativ sofisticat și persuasiv asociat în textele antice cu tehnicile educaționale predate de ea.
EN: A sophisticated and persuasive argumentative style associated in ancient texts with the educational techniques taught by her.
Procesul Aspasiei / The trial of Aspasia
RO: Episod istoric controversat în care inamicii politici ai lui Pericle au acuzat-o de impietate (asebeia) și comportament imoral.
EN: A controversial historical episode in which Pericles' political enemies accused her of impiety (asebeia) and immoral behavior.
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