Axiothea of Phlius

"Axiothea" redirects here. For the 4th-century BCE Cyprian queen, see Axiothea of Paphos.

Axiothea of Phlius (Greek : Ἀξιοθέα Φλειασίαfl.c. 350 BCE) was a member of the Platonic Academy in the 4th century BCE. She is one of the two known female members of the Academy, the other being Lastheneia of Mantinea. ^[1] According to Themistius, ^[2] she traveled from Phlius to Athens to study under Plato after reading his Republic . ^[1] According to Dicearchus, ^[3] Axiothea dressed as a man during her time at Plato's Academy, though she appears to have been allowed to continue her studies after her disguise was discovered. ^[1] After Plato's death she continued her studies with Speusippus, Plato's nephew. ^{[4] [5]}

Notes

1. Waterfield 2023, p. 132.
2. Themistius, Orations, 23. 295C
3. Diogenes Laërtius, iii. 46.
4. Diogenes Laërtius, iv. 2
5. Ogilvie 1986.

References

• Ogilvie, Marilyn Bailey (1986). Women in science : antiquity through the nineteenth century : a biographical dictionary with annotated bibliography (3. print. ed.). Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press. ISBN   0-262-15031-X.
• Waterfield, Robin (2023). Plato of Athens: A Life in Philosophy. Oxford University Press. ISBN   978-0-19-756475-2 . Retrieved 9 May 2025.