Epircurus was a Greek philosopher who founded Epicureanism about 307 B.C. Notably, one of the first, if not the first Greek philosopher to believe and uphold the liberation of women. Seven women philosophers developed in his school, which was housed in in house, said to have been a stately province removed from the glare of the city... surrounded by gardens, where slaves, men, and women alike took to the celebratory nature of garden, food and drink. Women were allowed to write and speak publicly, one of them even challenged a follower of Plato, which surely pissed off the Romans.
I consider myself somewhat of an Epicurean, in the modern sense, someone who takes to food and drink in a sensual knowledgeable way- a foodie, a gourmet.
Upon reading and researching the writings of these 7 women (sadly, much has been lost) I came across this beauty... a re-telling of Hypatia's lecture to her students, the end- upon delivering Book 6 of Homer's Iliad:
'"And the speaker stopped suddenly, her eyes glistening with tears, her whole figure trembling and dilating with rapture. She remained for a moment motionless, gazing earnestly at her audience, as if in hopes of exciting in them some kindred glow; and them recovering herself, added in a more tender tone, not quite unmixed with sadness-
"Go now, my pupils, Hypatia has no more for you today. Go now, and spare her at least-- woman as she is after all-- the shame of finding that she has given you too much, and lifted the veil of Iris before eyes which are not enough purified to behold the glory of the goddess. --Farewell."
Hypatia, one of honored among the women of Judy Chicago's "Dinner Party", and more over continued research in feminist philosophy.
Que Amor.
Painting: Charles Willuam Mitchell, 1885 "Hypatia"
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