The Greek philosopher Socrates claimed on several occasions to have been introduced to the "philosophy of love" (later known as Platonic Love) by Diotima, a priestess, seer, thinker and friend. Though she is only mentioned in the words of Plato and no other source, she is presumed to have been a real person because nearly all of those mentioned in Plato's works were based on living individuals in and around Athens.
Other female philosophers of the time include Aspasia, Perictione I, and Damo, the daughter of Pythagoras and Theano.
