Leaina

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Leaina was an Athenian courtesan and the mistress of Aristogeiton. When Aristogeiton made an unsuccessful attempt to overthrow a tyrant, Leaina was captured and tortured for information. When she approached the breaking point, she bit off her tongue to avoid giving in. The Athenians honored her with a statue of a tongueless lion in the Acropolis of Athens in 520 B.C.E.

  • Leon, Vicki. (1995) Uppity Women of Ancient Times. Publishers Group West. Page 171. ISBN 1-57324-010-9