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'''Gorgo''' was a Queen Consort of the Kingdom of [[Sparta]]. She was the wife of King [[Leonidas]] and, as a young girl (her father, Leonidas's half-brother was King before him) she began to become active in politics. She is mentioned as speaking in the senate chambers by [[Herodotus]],<ref>http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/spartarulers/a/Gorgo.htm</ref> a historian of the time period. Such direct mention by name was unusual, possibly indicating that she had meaningful political influence. Her husband, father, and son were all kings.

'''Gorgo of Sparta'''<ref>[http://www.ancient.eu/Gorgo_of_Sparta/ Ancient EU Gorgo of Sparta]</ref> was the queen of the city-state of Sparta, and wife of King [[Leonidas]] I (490-480 BC). She was likely born somewhere between 518-508 BC, was daughter of King [[Cleomenes]] (520-490 BC), and later became the mother of the future Spartan king [[Pleistarchus]] (480-458 BC). The date of her death is entirely unknown. Gorgo of Sparta is considered by some historians to have been one of the most influential women in the ancient past.<ref>[http://elysiumgates.com/~helena/gorgo.html QUEEN GORGO: THE BRIDE OF LEONIDAS]</ref> Most of what we know regarding Gorgo comes from the ancient historian [[Herodotus]], where many tales about her influence, power and deeds arise.

 

 

Gorgo of Sparta was born and raised as a Spartian girl of nobility by King [[Cleomenes]], when at an early age she was likely trained in singing, dancing, literature, and physical education. Herodotus first tells us about her when she is still under the age of ten. The head of the state of Ionia, [[Aristagoras]] had caused a revolt against Persia, and when it failed, Aristagoras fleed to Sparta and plead to the Spartan king at the time, Cleomenes, for aid in order to fight off the invading Persians. The ancient historian [[Herodotus]], in his the fifth chapter of his ''Histories'' narrates;

 

:''Cleomenes went to his house after this exchange, but Aristagoras took a suppliant's garb and followed him there. Upon entering, he used a suppliant's right to beg Cleomenes to listen to him. He first asked Cleomenes to send away the child, his daughter Gorgo, who was standing by him. She was his only child, and was about eight or nine years of age. Cleomenes bade him say whatever he wanted and not let the child's presence hinder him. Then Aristagoras began to promise Cleomenes from ten talents upwards, if he would grant his request. When Cleomenes refused, Aristagoras offered him ever more and more. When he finally promised fifty talents the child cried out, “Father, the stranger will corrupt you, unless you leave him and go away.” Cleomenes was pleased with the child's counsel and went into another room while Aristagoras departed from [[Sparta]], finding no further occasion for telling of the journey inland to the king's palace.''<ref>Herodotus. ''Histories''. Chapter 5, Section 51. Available link: http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0126:book=5:chapter=51</ref>

 

Gorgo, at a very young page, was said to have convinced her father, king of [[Sparta]] at the time Cleomenes, to walk away from the begging of Aristagoras. For such a tale to be present about Gorgo at such a young age reveals and reflects her great influence and possibly intellect during her life.

 

Later in her life, Gorgo was married to King [[Leonidas]] I, the half-brother of her father. Her father died leaving no male heirs for the throne of [[Sparta]], and so her husband Leonidas I succeeded to the throne, making her the queen of Sparta.

 

Many ancedotes have also been ascribed to Gorgo. One of her most famous anecdotes was when she was visiting [[Athens]]. A women there asked her why only Spartan women could have authority over their men -- according to [[Plutarch]], Gorgo was said to have responded by saying "Because only Spartan women give birth to men."<ref>Plutarch, ''Moralia 225A''</ref>

 

After the death of her husband Leonidas I in the [[Battle of Thermopylae]], Gorgo disappears from the historical record.

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