OCR GCSE Classics - Improper Women

How was prostitution viewed in Greece?

Prostitution was a normal part of life for married and unmarried men, they would often be invited to symposia to entertain

What could a prostitute do that a kyria could not?

They could run a business and buy and sell land

What is an example of a successful prostitute?

Rhodonis, who could afford to pay for her own statue to be made at Delphi which was a religious site

What were the 2 types of prostitutes in Greece?

pornai - low class, could be slaved

hetairai - high class, could charge more, invited to symposia

What would a porne do?

Work in the poorest parts of the city in slums and brothels as slaves , expose themselves on the streets, make themselves appear beautiful by exaggerating their best parts

What would a hetaira do?

Generally metics but could be free citizens, Be educated in music, poetry, dance, politics, art, philosophy and offer unique experiences to their clients other than sex usually in symposia

How can we identify a hetaira in a source?

All eyes on her, half-naked men recling around her, skin exposed, playing diaulos, playing drinking game, wreaths decorating room, nicely styled hair

What were the negatives of being a prostitute rather than a kyria?

-No security or protection from husband

-No respect

-Tough life, esp as porne

-Pressure to entertain for money

-Public property

-Little rights

What were the positives of being a prostitute rather than a kyria?

-Could own property and make money

-Could be educated

-No expectation to have children

-Could attend symposia

Who was Neaira?

A slave hetaira who was sold to a brothel owner known as Nicarete. Her clients grew tired of paying such a high price for her so they bought her and later sold her, she faced abuse from her owners, she lived as Stephanus' wife who would blackmail her clients to extort bribes from them, her daughter Phano was illegally married to an Athenian man, she had a court case about her

Who was Aspasia? (Plutarch's 'Life of Pericles')

Aspasia was a metic brothel-keeper and hetaira who had a 15 year long relationship with Pericles who she had influence over, she was admired for her skills but also the subject of jokes in plays and publicly ridiculed

How was prostitution viewed in Rome?

Prostitution was a normal part of life for married and unmarried men, but was deemed a shameful profession and a prostitute had infamia as they used their bodies to entertain like actors and gladiators

How were prostitutes taxed?

Prostitutes had to get a 'license for debauchery' from the aediles so the state could tax them

Who was not allowed to be a prostitute?

The upper class 'equites'

What was the name of a prostitute in Rome?

Meretrix, it was used to describe any kind of prostitute

What were low-class prostitutes or slaves? What did they do?

Lupanar, they worked in the worst parts of town like in the arches under the Circus Maximus trying to attract clients by dancing drunken

How did Sulla benefit from a prostitute?

The prostitute left him money in her will which allowed him to build a successful career

What did female prostitutes wear in Rome and why?

Toga which is usually a badge of honour for citizen men, but was worn as a badge of shame to make them stand out and separate them from a matrona

How could prostitutes be involved in religion in Rome?

They could attend the festival of Fortuna Virilis to clean and dress the statue with matronae

What was a Lena?

A female pimp who owned and ran business by forcing others to be prostitutes but meant she was a free woman, they had infamia as it was considered one of the lowest jobs in Rome

Why would a Lena refer to one of her prostitutes as 'daughter'?

It could be saying lena even forced their family into prostitution or that they wanted to fool clients into paying services of a free woman for higher prices

Who was Cytheris?

She was an actress, mime and prostitute who was loved and celebrated for her beauty despite her infamia

Who did Cytheris have a relationship with? (Cicero)

Mark Antony, he paraded her as if she was a wife and even referred to her by her real name, Julius Caesar instructed him to break up with her

Who did Cytheris have a relationship with after Mark Antony?

With Gallus who wrote poetry about her under the pseudonym 'Lycoris'

Who was Clodia/Lesbia?

A scandalous noblewoman who was known for her improper behaviour, she married her first cousin who was a senator

Who did Clodia/Lesbia have a relationship with? What did he do?

The poet Catullus who referred to her as Lesbia in his poetry like 'How many kisses' and 'Advice: to himself'

What did Cicero write about Clodia/Lesbia?

Cicero wrote a speed 'Pro Caelio' defending Caelius after Clodia accused him of trying to poison her, in the speech he insulted Clodias character and painted her as not virtuous, just like a prostitute, a 'tart' (slut) and as untrustworthy