Aspasia the Physician

Aspasia was an ancient Greek medical writer known only from book 16 of Aetius of Amida's Tetrabiblion.[1] She is cited eleven times by Aetius.[2] John Scarborough suggests that Aspasia was a contemporary of Aetius and an expert in gynaeology and obstetrics.[1]

Not to be confused with Aspasia.

Because Aspasia is not attested anywhere outside of the last book of Aetius, and because of the name Aspasia, which Rebecca Flemming says held "obvious appeal ... in a gynacological context", Flemming has argued that it should not be assumed that Aspasia was a real woman physician.[3] Steven Muir and Laurence Totelin suggest that the name, evoking Pericles' lover, might have been chosen to lend authority to obstetric and gynacological material.[4]

References
  1. Scarborough, John (2013). "Theodora, Aetius of Amida and Procopius". Greek, Roman and Byzantine Studies. n.27.
  2. Scarborough, John (2013). "Theodora, Aetius of Amida and Procopius". Greek, Roman and Byzantine Studies: 752.
  3. Flemming, Rebecca (2007). "Women, Writing and Medecine in the Classical World". The Classical Quarterly. 57 (1): 257–279. ISSN 0009-8388.
  4. Muir, Steven; Totelin, Laurence (2013). "Medicine and Disease". In Tillich, Janet H. (ed.). A Cultural History of Women in Antiquity. p. 103.


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