Pythias

For other uses, see Pythias (disambiguation).

Pythias (Greek: Πυθιάς, Pūthias) was the adoptive daughter of Hermias of Atarneus, as well as Aristotle's first wife.

She was probably born about 381 BC and died in Athens after 326 BC. She predeceased Aristotle, which is known from his will, since it directs that her wish be honored to have her bones buried with his.

Together Aristotle and Pythias had a daughter, also named Pythias. This Pythias married three times, but is also said to have predeceased her father. Her first husband was Nicanor, Aristotle's nephew by his sister Arimneste. According to Aristotle's will, Nicanor was to manage the family affairs until his son, Nicomachus came of age. Pythias' second husband was Procles of Sparta. Pythias' third husband was Metrodorus, a physician.

References

• Diogenes Laertius, Life of Aristotle. Translated by C.D. Yonge.
• Eduard Zeller, Aristotle and the Earlier Peripatetics (1897).