Aspasia arrived in Athens probably around the middle 440s BC, and soon after achieved instant fame through her association with Pericles, the city's democratic leader. Divorcing his wife, who he left with two sons, he took up residence with Aspasia setting tongues wagging all over the city.

As the companion of Athens' leading politician, Aspasia quickly became the target of much malicious gossip, and she was soon accused of being a hetaira: a high-class courtesan, rather like a Japanese Geisha girl. These women would entertain wealthy men during their symposia, or dinner parties, but were not considered suitable as wives or companions. Whether Aspasia had actually been a hetaira is unclear.

Still more upsetting for Athenian traditionalists was the great respect their city's leader showed to his lover. Women were meant to be unseen and unheard, yet Pericles consulted Aspasia as an equal, made no effort to prevent her mixing with important men, and openly showed her great affection.

Malicious gossip that Aspasia was a cheap prostitute, that she procured young girls for Pericles, secretly wrote his speeches, and persuaded him to enter wars to protect her home city, would follow Aspasia for the rest of her life.