Aristotle's companion after the death of his wife Pythias, Herpyllis lived with the philosopher until his death in 322 BC. He showed her great affection and bequeathed her property in his will.
Herpyllis
Herpyllis
7 min read
Frequently asked questions
Key Facts
- Originally from Stagira, Aristotle's hometown
- Became Aristotle's companion after the death of Pythias (around 326 BC)
- Had a son with Aristotle named Nicomachus
- Aristotle bequeathed her a house and a sum of money in his will (322 BC)
Works & Achievements
The will of Aristotle, preserved by Diogenes Laërtius, is the main source on Herpyllis. It secures her protection, income, and freedom, bearing witness to the central role she played in the philosopher's life.
This major work of moral philosophy is associated with the name of Nicomachus, son of Herpyllis and Aristotle. Whether dedicated to him or edited by him, it keeps alive the memory of the lineage born from their union.
Without leaving any written text, Herpyllis took charge of Aristotle's household during his years at the Lyceum — a task recognized in Antiquity as a complete art in its own right, requiring organization, judgment, and domestic authority.
Anecdotes
In his will, written shortly before his death in 322 BCE and preserved by Diogenes Laërtius, Aristotle shows genuine affection for Herpyllis. He bequeaths her considerable property, offers her the choice between the family home in Stagira and the one in Chalcis, and asks his executors to ensure she is well treated, as she had always been devoted to him.
Herpyllis was, like Aristotle, a native of Stagira, a small city in Macedonia. This shared origin no doubt created a special bond between them — a mutual nostalgia for the hometown the philosopher had left as a child to study in Athens. How they met is unknown, but their relationship lasted several decades.
Herpyllis gave Aristotle a son whom he named Nicomachus, in honor of his own father who bore that name. This son has remained famous through the centuries, as the Nicomachean Ethics — one of the great works of Western philosophy — was probably edited or dedicated in his honor after Aristotle's death.
Aristotle specifies in his will that Herpyllis must not be made to remarry against her wishes, granting her a form of legal and moral protection that was rare for a woman of her status in ancient Greece. This clause reveals how deeply the philosopher, who had spent his entire life reflecting on ethics and justice, sought to apply those values within his own family life.
Upon Aristotle's death, Herpyllis also inherited household servants and received a substantial sum of money. The philosopher asked that the statues of his first wife Pythias be honored, but he reserved for Herpyllis a concrete, everyday form of protection — a sign that he distinguished between conjugal memory and enduring affection.
Primary Sources
He also directed that care be taken of Herpyllis, who had been good to him, and that she be given either the house at Stagira or the one at Chalcis, according to her choice, along with the furniture of the bedroom and twenty-five minas of silver.
As for Herpyllis, who has cared for me, my executors shall see to it that she wants for nothing, and if she wishes to marry again, let her not be given to one who is unworthy of her.
Virtue, then, is a state of character concerned with choice, lying in a mean relative to us, this being determined by rational principle — and by that principle by which the person of practical wisdom would determine it.
Key Places
The hometown of both Aristotle and Herpyllis, on the Chalcidice peninsula. This shared origin is considered one of the foundations of their relationship, and Aristotle bequeathed her his house there in his will.
It was at the Lyceum, the school founded by Aristotle in 335 BCE, that Herpyllis shared the philosopher's life during his most productive years. The family home stood near this centre of teaching.
Aristotle and Herpyllis withdrew here in 323 BCE following the political turmoil after Alexander's death. It was here that Aristotle died in 322, leaving Herpyllis the choice of remaining in Chalcis or returning to Stagira.
Capital of the Macedonian kingdom, where Aristotle stayed during his tenure as Alexander's tutor. Herpyllis may have accompanied him during this period, which roughly coincides with the beginning of their relationship.
Typical Objects
In ancient Greece, spinning wool was the central activity of any respectable housewife. Herpyllis, mistress of Aristotle's household, supervised textile production and took part in it herself — a recognized sign of domestic virtue.
Living in the immediate circle of the greatest philosopher of antiquity, Herpyllis was surrounded by texts and books on a daily basis. The Lyceum held one of the first great libraries in the Greek world, and scrolls circulated freely throughout the household.
An indispensable fixture in every Greek home, it extended the day's activities beyond sunset. In Aristotle's household, it lit the evenings of discussion and writing in which Herpyllis took part as mistress of the house.
Greek women of comfortable means wore bronze or gold fibulae to fasten their chiton, along with necklaces and bracelets. As the companion of a respected and wealthy philosopher, Herpyllis most likely owned a fine set of adornments for social occasions.
Olive oil was at the heart of cooking, lighting, and personal care in ancient Greece. Managing the household's oil stores was one of the mistress of the house's core responsibilities — a role Herpyllis fulfilled in the philosopher's home.
The Greek household (*oikos*) included small offerings made to Hestia, goddess of the hearth. Like every Greek woman, Herpyllis tended to this daily domestic cult, which was seen as guaranteeing divine protection over the home.
School Curriculum
Vocabulary & Tags
Key Vocabulary
Daily Life
Morning
Herpyllis rose before dawn to supervise the servants' tasks: fetching water, lighting the fire, and preparing breakfast consisting of barley bread, olives, and cheese. As mistress of the household, she organized the day's work before the philosopher and his disciples began their activities at the Lyceum.
Afternoon
The afternoon was devoted to household management: overseeing the weaving, purchasing goods at the market through servants, and educating the children of the house. Herpyllis moved within the *gynaeceum*, the women's quarters, while maintaining indirect contact with the philosophical discussions that animated the men's side of the household.
Evening
In the evening, Herpyllis took part in the family meal (*deipnon*), a time of togetherness shared among Aristotle, their children, and trusted companions. She tended to the oil lamp and tidied away belongings. In the intimacy of the home, far from the public debates of the Lyceum, she was at the philosopher's side during moments of rest.
Food
The daily diet centered on barley or wheat bread, legumes (lentils, chickpeas), olives and olive oil, fresh or dried vegetables, and dried or fresh fish depending on market days. Meat was rare and reserved for religious festivals. Wine mixed with water accompanied the main meals.
Clothing
Herpyllis wore the *chiton* — a long draped garment of linen or wool fastened at the shoulders with pins — over which she would put on a *himation*, a large rectangular cloak, when going out, covering her head as a sign of modesty. Her clothes were either woven at home or bought at the market depending on the season.
Housing
Aristotle's house in Athens, close to the Lyceum, was a typical classical Greek dwelling organized around an open-air central courtyard, with a well, storage rooms, a *gynaeceum* on the upper floor for the women, and an *andron* on the ground floor for men's gatherings. In Chalcis, Aristotle owned another house which, according to his will, was left to Herpyllis to choose.
Historical Timeline
Period Vocabulary
Liens externes & ressources
Références
Œuvres
Testament d'Aristote (source indirecte)
322 av. J.-C.
Éthique à Nicomaque (liée à leur fils)
vers 340-322 av. J.-C.
Direction de l'oikos aristotélicien
vers 335-322 av. J.-C.
