Phaenarete - Φαιναρέτη

Phaenarete (Greek Φαιναρέτη), wife of Sophroniscus, was the mother of the Greek philosopher Socrates and his half-brother, Patrocles. (Since Sophroniscus had died before 424 BC, he was probably Phaenarete's first husband, while Chaeredemus, father of Patrocles, was her second.)

Very little is known of the life of Phaenarete. In Plato's Theaetetus, Socrates compares his own work as a philosopher with hers as a midwife. Albert Schwegler writes of Socrates: "his office was rather to help others bring forth thoughts than to produce them himself...[and] he took upon himself to distinguish the birth of an empty thought from one rich in content."

In Xenophon's Memorabilia, Socrates' veneration of his mother is amply demonstrated in his discussion with his eldest son Lamprocles. Socrates takes an aggressive stance towards his son, saying: "You are displeased at your mother, although you well know that whatever she says, she not only says nothing with intent to do you harm, but that she wishes you more good than any other human being."

"Because the dates for the life of Socrates are certain, it is safe to conclude his mother, Phaenarete, was born about 500 BCE. She seems to have lived well past menopause and thus was certainly alive to see the start of construction of the Parthenon (447 BCE) and probably its completion (432 BCE). As was traditional for many Greek mothers, after menopause she became a priestess, pharmacist and obstetrician." (Read more...)

• Stuart Dean, The Mother of Socrates: Priestess, Pharmacist, Obstetrician (2015)