The image of a woman "riding" a man undoubtedly evokes complex associations. However, when the role of the beast of burden is played by the personification of Western philosophical tradition, namely Aristotle himself, the issue becomes even more complicated.

How and when did Aristotle find himself in this paradoxical position? Who is the woman that "subjugates" him in such a manner? And why has this subject, the story of the young Phyllis and the elderly Aristotle, survived for centuries in hundreds of artistic representations?

The unraveling of the thread leads us to the princely courts of 13th century medieval France ‒ where the Song of Aristotle (Le laid d’Aristote) meets for the first time ‒ and from there to the distant lands of the East conquered by Alexander. Because we must not forget: the Stagirite was the teacher of the young Macedonian.

Phyllis, Alexander, and Aristotle are thus connected in an unorthodox love triangle within which early feminist claims, a critique of scholastic philosophy, and a hymn to the legitimacy of romantic devotion intertwine.

Here, the 13th-century French text recounting the strange story of Aristotle and Phyllis is translated into Greek for the first time, while the introduction places the issue in its historical and artistic context.

Nikos Daskalothanasis is a professor of the history of modern and contemporary art at the Department of Theory and History of Art of the Athens School of Fine Arts. He has published, among other works, a monograph on Giorgio de Chirico, a book on the historical role of the artist, a study on the early formation of art history in Europe, and a collection of his texts. He is responsible for the periodic publication Art History.