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]
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]
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]
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]