Aspasia of Miletus:  Annotated Bibliography

Compiled by D. Wilson

“Aspasia:  First Woman of Athens.” Historywiz.com.
      <http://www.historywiz.com/historymakers/aspasia.htm> 23 Sept 2007.  

      This article presents the accepted history of the life of Aspasia of Miletus, including
      her role in influencing Pericles.  It is unique, however, in its implication that the idea     
      that Aspasia created Pericles’ orations was a joke that originated with Plato.

“Aspasia of Miletus.” Angelfire.com.
     <http://www.angelfire.com/anime2/100import/aspasia.html> 18 Sept 2007.

     This article documents a straight-forward account of the life of Aspasia of
     Miletus, including the reasons she has been remembered throughout the ages.

“Aspasia of Miletus.”  University of Chicago. 
     <http://Penelope.uchicago.edu/~grout/encyclopaedia_romana/Greece/
     hetairai/aspasia.html> 19 Sept 2007.

     This article explains the basic facts about the life of Asapsia, combined with how she was perceived by
     others.  The controversy of her life is coupled with examples of her intellect to create an intriguing
     description of the life of this amazing woman.

“Biography and History of Ancient Greek Poet Aspasia of Miletus:  She Wrote It—
     He Got the Credit.” Trivia-Library.com. 
     <http://www.trivia-library.com/a/biography-and-history-of-ancient-greek-poet-
     aspasia-of-miletus.html>  19 Sept 2007.

     This article creates a colorful, almost gossipy picture of the life of Aspasia of Miletus. 

Glenn, Cheryl.  “Remapping Rhetorical Territory.” Rhetoric Review. 13:2
     (Spring 1995): 287-303.

     This article encompasses Cheryl Glenn’s call for a “remapping of rhetorical territory”  
     to include women.  As the basis for her argument, she uses Aspasia of Miletus, the
     controversial companion of Pericles who is now suspected of composing many of his
     famous orations.  Her argument is based on the idea that if Aspasia was educated and
     included as part of the Athenian intellectual society, yet never recognized for her
     contributions, how many more women in history have been thus dismissed?  How many
     will be dismissed in the future?

Glenn, Cheryl.  “Sex, Lies, and Manuscript:  Refiguring Aspasia in the History of
     Rhetoric.” College Composition and Communication 45:2 (May 1994):  180-199.

     This journal article describes Aspasia’s actual role in and contributions to Athenian
     society.  Glenn delineates many of Aspasia’s suspected rhetorical accomplishments
     despite her existence in a patriarchal society, and uses her as a catalyst to encourage
     more research into women and rhetoric.

“The Greeks—Aspasia.”  PBS.org. 
     <http://www.pbs.org.empires/thegreeks/characters/aspasia p1.html>
     23 Sept 2007.

     This PBS article illuminates the life of Aspasia as only television could.  It creates an
     image of this beautiful and intelligent woman and the controversial, yet exciting life
     she led.