A Prostitute Incited the Peloponnesian War
In ancient Greece, women were subordinate to men in all regards with few exceptions. The closest thing in Greek society to a liberated woman was a hetaera. Hetaerae were high-class entertainers or courtesans that catered to a very select group of men. They were not common street women, in fact, they were often well educated which was not common for women in ancient Greece. Hetaerae were very independent and even paid taxes on the money they made from entertaining their high-class clients.
Aspasia was one such woman and she became so influential in ancient Greek society that she is mentioned by Plato and Aristophanes as well as other writers and historians of the time. She was so successful as a hetaera that she eventually owned her own brothel and became a rather respected woman. She was a foreigner in Athens which gave her further benefit because she was not limited by the legal restraints that forced married women to remain in their homes. She was actually allowed to participate in public life. She did have some detractors and as her influence grew, many in Athens grew to fear her.
Her life was considered to be immoral and normally would be frowned upon by upper-class women. But Aspasia was so well educated that men would send their wives to speak with Aspasia because she was a renowned conversationalist and adviser. She even gained the ear of Socrates and it was said that it was her teachings that helped to influence the famous philosopher. Socrates was not the only philosopher and scholar of the time that was fascinated by Aspasia and many would come simply to talk to her. As she rose in status she became the lover and partner of the statesman Pericles and advised him on matters of state.
It was Aristophanes who blamed Aspasia and her influence for the start of the Peloponnesian War. He claimed that the Megarian decree of Pericles was at the request of Aspasia. Megarians had stolen prostitutes from her brothel and therefore she wanted them punished. The Megarian decree, therefore, excluded Megara from trade with Athens or its allies. Aristophanes believed that the decree left the Megarians desperate and starving and with no choice but to turn to Sparta. The war occurred soon after as Sparta and her new allies feared the growing power and influence of Athens.