Activity

Accused!

Characters:

Aspasia of Miletus

Theme: From the Archaic to the Classical period: relevant historic events. Pericles.

Competencies

Competence in Linguistic Communication

Personal, social and learning to learn competence

Competence in cultural awareness and expressions

Subjects and year by Educational System

Spain > Classical culture > 1st ESO > Classical roots of today's world. History and socio-political evolution

Enunciation

Aspasia, born in Mileto ca. 470 BC, was a cultured and intelligent woman that surrounded herself with influential figures of the political and cultural spheres; she was an active participant of both spheres in Athens during the 5th century BC. She was a teacher of rhetoric and wrote speeches for her partner Pericles, according to some historians.&nbsp;
You are a correspondent of Iberia in Athens and you work for the "newspaper" Edeta. You have to travel to the Greek city and cover the news: the editorial department has come across some rumours about Aspasia's trial for inciting war against the Samians. You have to research the facts, go to the trial and write the news.&nbsp;
For some background information, read the news that have arrived to the "newspaper's" office and keep in mind the information which is most relevant for your editor.&nbsp;
NEWS&nbsp; &nbsp; Athens, 439 BC.&nbsp; &nbsp; Aspasia accused of inciting war against Samians&nbsp; &nbsp; Renowned Aspasia, Pericles' partner, has been accused by Cimon's followers of inciting war on Samos with her "domestic ruses". Athenians fought in this war just a year ago. Prosecutors claim that she convinced Pericles to help her fellow countrymen. &nbsp; According to official sources, the legal process will begin soon.&nbsp;
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THE MOST RELEVANT FACTS FOR YOUR EDITOR ARE:&nbsp; &nbsp; - Who accused her?&nbsp; - What are the objective facts?&nbsp; - Has Aspasia actually instigated this war?&nbsp; - What is the prosecution based on?&nbsp; - How has Aspasia defended herself against the jury?&nbsp; - What is the verdict?&nbsp;
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Observations and context

A teacher of rhetoric, philosopher and logographer, she seems to have been the only woman in classical Greece to stand out in the public sphere. Being a free and independent woman also meant that she was attacked, ridiculed and vilified, a trait she shares with many other women of classical times, such as Artemisia of Halicarnassus. She was born in Miletus, in the ancient Greek region of Ionia, where the poet Sappho and other prominent women, such as the aforementioned Artemisia of Halicarnassus or her namesake, Artemisia II of Caria, also originated.

She appears in several significant works of modern literature and her love story with Pericles has inspired several of the most famous novelists and poets of the last centuries. In particular, she was taken as a real model by Heloise in her letters to Abelard and inspired the authors of 19th century Romanticism and the authors of historical novels of the 20th century. Contradictory versions have been given of her: either she was a good wife or some combination of courtesan and prostitute; some even doubt her historicity.

This activity has been assigned to 1st of ESO, but it could be completed in 3rd and 4th of ESO in the same Block of contents or in Block Classical roots of today's world. Everyday life

Description

Text on the accusation against Aspasia in relation to the Samian War. Students are to become the correspondent in charge of covering the news for a "newspaper". They will research the facts, go to the trial and write the news.

Reading fragments, obtaining data, reflecting and looking up information.

Answer

Documents

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