Women, Politics, and Entertainment in Plutarch's Symposium of the Seven Sages

Abstract

Abstract:In this article, I examine the two female characters featured in Plutarch's Symposium of the Seven Sages: Melissa, the wife of Periander, and Cleobulina (a.k.a. Eumetis), the daughter of Cleobulus. In particular, I explore how these two women relate to male characters in the dialogue and how they comport themselves within the male-dominated space of this fictional banquet. Overall, I argue, Cleobulina and Melissa embody Plutarch's ideals regarding female virtue and provide a role-model for elite girls and married women respectively.