Lasthenia of Mantinea and Axiothea of Phlius

Two philosophical students of Plato and Speusippus in the 4th century bce . Lasthenia was from the Arcadian city of Mantinea; Axiothea was from Phlius, near Corinth. Both women, who travelled to Athens to become students of Plato, were born into wealthy Peloponnesian families.

In antiquity it was said that both Lasthenia and Axiothea donned masculine clothes in order to study philosophy. If they did so, their reason was less to fool Plato (for the great philosopher was virtually unique during the 4th century bce in his appreciation of the potential of the feminine intellect) than to avoid scandal. We know nothing of their contribution to the intellectual life of the Academy, but they obviously spent some period of time there, for when Speusippus followed his uncle Plato as the Academy's head, both women remained in Athens and associated themselves with the new master. Dionysius the tyrant of Syracuse, himself closely associated with the Academy and its members, hinted in a letter that there may have been more than a platonic relationship between Lasthenia and Speusippus (who was always characterized as being more intemperate and pleasure seeking than Plato). Whether true or not, this allusion to a covered-up scandal implies that those associated with the Academy knew exactly who these women were, but that most preferred to be discreet as to the secret of their gender for fear of whatever negative publicity might taint the reputation of the Academy among those not intimately associated with Plato's circle.

suggested reading:

Waithe, M.E., ed. Ancient Women Philosophers. Boston, MA: Dordrecht Press, 1987.

William Greenwalt , Associate Professor of Classical History, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California