The Legend of Agnodice
Agnodice is a figure often mentioned in the histories of the medical profession; but her story is largely unfamiliar to Classicists. She is credited with achieving a role, that of physician, forbidden to her by law. However, it is highly unlikely that she was an historical figure in third century Athens; instead she belongs to the realm of myth and folk tale. The only source for her tale is Hyginus, a Latin author of the first century CE:
A certain maiden named Agnodice desired to learn medicine and since she desired to learn she cut her hair, donned the clothes of a man and became a student of Herophilos. After she learned medicine, she heard a woman crying out in the throes of labor so she went to her assistance. The woman, thinking she was a man, refused her help; but Agnodice lifted up her clothes and revealed herself to be a woman and was thus able to treat her patient. When the male doctors found that their service were not wanted by the women, they began to accuse Agnodice, saying that she had seduced the women and they accused the women of feigning illness [to get visits from Agnodice]. When she was brought before the law court, the men began to condemn Agnodice... At this point the wives of the leading men arrived saying ‘you men are not spouses but enemies since you are condemning her who discovered health for us’. Then the Athenians emended the law so that freeborn women could study medicine.