La Brújula Verde: Agnodice, the Athenian Who Disguised Herself to Study Medicine and Became the First Known Gynecologist
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Agnodice
Agnodice is a legendary figure said to be the first female midwife or physician in ancient Athens. Her story, originally told in the Fabulae, has been used to illustrate issues surrounding women in medicine and midwifery. Agnodice is not generally considered a historical figure, but her legend has influenced discussions about gender roles in medical professions.
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science · 4th-century BC Greek female physician · gynecologist · midwife · physician · obstetrician · also Agnodice
Born 400 BC · Died 360 BC · Q263812
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The Washington Post: Female doctors were illegal in Greece. So Agnodice dressed up as a man to save lives.
75%The Washington PostSource
2025· 1 entry
2018· 1 entry
The Washington Post: Female doctors were illegal in Greece. So Agnodice dressed up as a man to save lives.
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1986· 1 entry
And Elizabeth Oakes in her Encyclopedia of World Scientists in 2007
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1938· 1 entry
Proposing that women had been forbidden from practising medicine because they had been accused of performing abortions
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1851· 1 entry
Delivered a lecture arguing that "literally, no improvement was made" in the "many centuries" where midwifery was a women's profession, comparing Agnodice to the 19th century abortionist Madame Restell
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