Diotima, the ancient greek female philosopher of love

Diotima, Aspasia, Sosipatra were three female philosophers from Ancient Greece who left a mark in history. Who were they? The great influential Ancient Greek philosophers that are commonly known today are all men.

What does diotima say about love

Although it was rare, female philosophers did exist in the same era as legends like Plato and Socrates. With a lack of documentation and few sources that write about them, it is difficult to gather in-depth knowledge about their lives and teachings. Oftentimes, information may only be found in one source, which leads some to question if they were truly a historical figure or just a fictional character.

What we know about the lives and philosophies of three female philosophers — Diotima of Mantinea, Aspasia of Miletus, and Sosipatra of Ephesus — will be the focus of this article. The piece includes speeches given by philosophers like Socrates , speaking in favor of the god of love, Eros. Regardless, she supposedly lived around B.

The origins of her name indicate her loyalty to the god Zeus and her prophetic capabilities. Diotima is described as a wise foreigner who serves the role of a priest.