The original source for the claim that she was Socrates' wife appears to have been a work by Aristotle called On Being Well-Born,[1][2][3] although Plutarch expresses doubt that the work is genuine. She was apparently the daughter,[3] or, more probably, the granddaughter of Aristides.[2] A different account of Xanthippe and Myrto is given in Aristoxenus's Life of Socrates written in the latter part of the fourth century BC that Aristoxenus asserts is based on first-person accounts by his father. This claims that Myrto was his legitimate wife and Xanthippe his mistress, whose child became legitimate.[4]
Although Diogenes Laërtius describes Myrto as Socrates' second wife living alongside Xanthippe, Myrto was presumably a common-law wife,[5] and Plutarch describes Myrto as merely living "together with the sage Socrates, who had another woman but took up this one as she remained a widow due to her poverty and lacked the necessities of life."[2]Athenaeus and Diogenes Laërtius report that Hieronymus of Rhodes attempted to confirm the story by pointing to a temporary decree the Athenians passed:
For they say that the Athenians were short of men and, wishing to increase the population, passed a decree permitting a citizen to marry one Athenian woman and have children by another; and that Socrates accordingly did so.
— Diogenes Laërtius, ii. 26
Neither Plato nor Xenophon mention Myrto, and not everyone in ancient times believed the story: according to Athenaeus, Panaetius "refuted those who talk about the wives of Socrates."[1]
^Huffman, Carl (2012). Aristoxenus of Tarentum. New Brunswick, N.J: Transaction Publishers. ISBN978-1-315-08215-8. OCLC 777330122.
^Luis E. Navia (1985), Socrates, the man and his philosophy, p. 78
Further readingedit
Fitton, J. W. (1970). "'That Was No Lady, That Was...'". The Classical Quarterly. 20 (1): 56–66. ISSN 0009-8388. JSTOR 637508.
Woodbury, Leonard (1973). "Socrates and the Daughter of Aristides". Phoenix. 27 (1): 7–25. doi:10.2307/1087907. ISSN 0031-8299. JSTOR 1087907.
March 16, 2024
myrto, this, article, about, wife, socrates, figures, named, greek, mythology, mythology, ɜːr, greek, Μυρτώ, century, according, some, accounts, wife, socrates, socrates, wives, alcibiades, painting, reyer, blommendaelsources, editthe, original, source, claim,. This article is about a wife of Socrates For figures named Myrto in Greek mythology see Myrto mythology Myrto ˈ m ɜːr t oʊ Greek Myrtw fl 5th century BC was according to some accounts a wife of Socrates Socrates his two Wives and Alcibiades Painting by Reyer van BlommendaelSources editThe original source for the claim that she was Socrates wife appears to have been a work by Aristotle called On Being Well Born 1 2 3 although Plutarch expresses doubt that the work is genuine She was apparently the daughter 3 or more probably the granddaughter of Aristides 2 A different account of Xanthippe and Myrto is given in Aristoxenus s Life of Socrates written in the latter part of the fourth century BC that Aristoxenus asserts is based on first person accounts by his father This claims that Myrto was his legitimate wife and Xanthippe his mistress whose child became legitimate 4 Although Diogenes Laertius describes Myrto as Socrates second wife living alongside Xanthippe Myrto was presumably a common law wife 5 and Plutarch describes Myrto as merely living together with the sage Socrates who had another woman but took up this one as she remained a widow due to her poverty and lacked the necessities of life 2 Athenaeus and Diogenes Laertius report that Hieronymus of Rhodes attempted to confirm the story by pointing to a temporary decree the Athenians passed For they say that the Athenians were short of men and wishing to increase the population passed a decree permitting a citizen to marry one Athenian woman and have children by another and that Socrates accordingly did so Diogenes Laertius ii 26 Neither Plato nor Xenophon mention Myrto and not everyone in ancient times believed the story according to Athenaeus Panaetius refuted those who talk about the wives of Socrates 1 Notes edit a b Athenaeus xiii 555D 556A a b c Plutarch Aristides xxvii 3 4 a b Diogenes Laertius ii 26 Huffman Carl 2012 Aristoxenus of Tarentum New Brunswick N J Transaction Publishers ISBN 978 1 315 08215 8 OCLC 777330122 Luis E Navia 1985 Socrates the man and his philosophy p 78Further reading editFitton J W 1970 That Was No Lady That Was The Classical Quarterly 20 1 56 66 ISSN 0009 8388 JSTOR 637508 Woodbury Leonard 1973 Socrates and the Daughter of Aristides Phoenix 27 1 7 25 doi 10 2307 1087907 ISSN 0031 8299 JSTOR 1087907 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Myrto amp oldid 1210729767, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
