Xanthippe: A Wife Well Examined Quiz

Answer: Yellow Horse

In Greek, the two words that form her name are "xanthos" (blonde or yellow) and "hippos" (horse). Names with a connection to horses were not uncommon in ancient Greece. As to the other part of her name, perhaps it reflects that she had blonde hair, though there is no clear proof of that.

The name "Xanthippe" was also used for several mythological characters, including a granddaughter of Apollo.

Answer: Xanthippe was significantly younger than Socrates

Most historians believe that Xanthippe was much younger than Socrates--often 40 years is suggested as the difference in their ages. One piece of evidence that helps support this is when the imprisoned Socrates was awaiting his death sentence, Xanthippe visited Socrates with his (still underage children). Socrates was roughly 70 at the time of his death so a 30 something Xanthippe would not be unreasonable.

Answer: Xanthippe

Xanthippe probably came from a significantly higher class than Socrates. Their eldest child was named Lamprocles, after Xanthippe's father. In ancient Athens, it was common practice to name a man's first son after the man's father. (The father of Socrates was Sophroniscus.

He would be the namesake for the second son of Socrates.) The main exception was if the wife's father came from a much more prestigious background. In addition, the use of the word "hippos" (as in Xanthippe) in one's name often indicated an aristocratic background for the person.

Answer: Her personality

In Xenophon's "Symposium", he has Socrates state that he married Xanthippe because of her personality, though not in the way you might think. He claimed he married her, not because of her agree-ability, but specifically because her personality was difficult. Socrates gave the comparison of a riding expert who will test himself by riding a spirited horse. In the same way, one who wishes to interact with many people (such as Socrates himself) will test himself by marrying a woman with a difficult personality. By comparison, then, the personalities of other people would be easier to deal with.

Other ancient writers, including Aelian and Diogenes Laertius, also suggest that Xanthippe's personality was "shrewish". In fact, Merriam-Webster dictionary define a xanthippe as an ill-tempered woman. What was Xanthippe's side of the story? Did she have a good reason to be cross with Socrates? We shall see.

Answer: She did both things

These aren't even the only stories of Xanthippe's negative behavior. The cake was sent to Socrates by his friend Alcibiades. Xanthippe is said to have trampled the cake. Supposedly after having the chamberpot dumped on his head, Socrates is said to have said "After thunder comes the rain." In the culture of ancient Greece, where the wife was meant to defer to and obey the husband, Xanthippe's actions would have been seen as improperly brazen. To be fair, many of the earliest reporters of Xanthippe's actions were the "philosophy buddies" of Socrates.

In addition, Socrates had focused less on his (paying) job as a stonecutter and more on his (unpaid) job as a philosopher. In ancient Greece, if the wife was supposed to obey the husband, the husband was supposed to financially provide for the wife. Socrates himself (in Plato's "Apology") admitted he fell well short of this goal.

Answer: She was very upset

In his dialogue "Phaedo", Plato mentions Xanthippe briefly. She has visited Socrates where he was being held to await his execution. Apparently Xanthippe was so visibly upset that Socrates asked others to remove her from his presence. It is unclear whether this was thought Xanthippe being taken away from him would help to ease her pain or if it was Socrates himself who was made uncomfortable with a display of strong emotion.

What about Xanthippe herself? Was she upset at losing the husband she loved and the sons her father? Or was she upset at losing the man who was the breadwinner (even if a poor one) for her family when her sons were still young and she would be a young widow?

Answer: Devoted to their care

Xanthippe and Socrates had three children, all sons: Lamprocles, Sophroniscus, and Menexenus. Aristotle stated that none of the sons proved to remarkable or accomplished. Nonetheless, Plato and Xenophon described her as a devoted mother. Xenophon described one anecdote where Lamprocles complained about his mother's strictness. Socrates defended her on this occasion to his son stating that his mother was only strict with him to make him a better person.

Answer: Myrto

Myrto was the daughter or granddaughter of the Athenian statesman, Aristides. Myrto is described in some sources as a wife of Socrates. Others however, suggest that Socrates provided some financial support for Myrto without becoming her husband. I would like to know how Socrates had money to give to Myrto when he was hardly able to provide financially for his own family!

Answer: Katherina

In "The Taming of the Shrew", Petruchio describes Katherina (the title character) "As Socrates' Xanthippe or a worse" (Act 1, Scene 2, Line 57). Other authors who refer to Xanthippe (often in a negative way) include Henry Fielding, Walter Scott, and Salomon Maimon.

Answer: An asteroid

Named in 1995, Xanthippe is used as the genus for two species of mites: Xanthippe clavisetosa and Xanthippe hendersoni. First identified in 1910, Crocidura xantippe is commonly known as Xanthippe's shrew and is found in eastern Africa. Asteroid 156 Xanthippe is found in the main belt of asteroids between Mars and Jupiter.

It was discovered in 1871 and is roughly 75 miles in diameter. No comet was named after Xanthippe in the 19th or 20th centuries.