Improper Women

Created by

Soyang T

Cards (49)

What was sex work in Athens like? 
Legal (not adultery)
They worked in brothels
Very ordinary, no stigma attached for men
What freedoms does a sex worker have that a kyria doesn’t? 
Allowed to go freely and run a business
What is a Porne? 
Lower class
slaves owned by a brothel keeper
hired only for sex
money goes to master
brothels were dirty
advertise in the streets
What is a Hetaira? 
higher class
free woman
would have been a metic
sing, dance, rhetoric
long term relationships
educated
in a symposium
Choose her own clients for high price
What is a symposium? 
drinking party for:
business reason, family or enjoyment
What did the women of the house do for a symposium? 
They decorated the room (andron)
Not allowed to take part
Who were mainly sex workers?
metics - resident forgeigner
because if an Athenian woman had sex, it would be adultery
How were metics treated in Athens? 
seen as lesser than
have to abide by unfair laws
had to find a patron to register them to government
pay metic tax 12 drachmae for men 6 for women
men had to fight in war
What could metics not do in Athens? 
be apart of politics, like the Assembly
marry Athenian citizen
child with Athenian is nto considered Athenian
Who is Aspasia? 
born in Miletus
worked as Heataira and business owner
relationship with Pericles
famous for intelligence and skills
indirect political influence
Life of Pericles Source: Samos people made a war against Milesia, but Athenians told them to stop  
People say its because Aspasia seduced Pericles to stop them from attacking her hometowns
Life of Pericles: Aspasia trying to compete with famous hetaira Thargalia, both getting important men. Thargalia tried to get her client to side with King of Persia, who tried to attack Greece 
Good for Aspasia, defending Greece
Life of Pericles: Aspasia trying to compete with famous hetaira Thargalia, both getting important men. Thargalia tried to get her client to side with King of Persia, who tried to attack Greece 
Good for Aspasia, defending Greece Good for Aspasia, defending Greece
Life of Pericles: Pericles and Socrates thought she was admirable and would listen to hear speak  
She was wise
Life of Pericles: After Pericles died, Aspasia moved in with a poor sheep dealer  
She helps people out of poverty
Life of Pericles: Married to a woman, divorced her so he could live with Aspasia 
Treat her like a wife
Shows his love for her
Life of Pericles: Comedic Playwrights would make fun of her, call her a shameless prostitute 
People didnt like her
her reputation was bad
not modest
Life of Pericles: Comedic Playwrights would make fun of her, call her a shameless prostitute 
People didnt like her
her reputation was bad
not modest
Life of Pericles: Pericles and Aspasia have a son, not legitimate, because he is not Athenian  
people are jealous of her
manipulatinh
Life of Pericles: Pericles and Aspasia have a son, not legitimate, because he is not Athenian  
people are jealous of her
manipulatinh
Life of Pericles: Cyrus had heard of Aspasia from Perisa  
she is famous and influencial
What was the life of Neaira like? 
born in Corinth
sold to a brothen keeper, Nicarete
a slave (not free) and hetaira (entertained at a symposium)
What happens after Neaira stops being property of Nicarete? 
2 young men buy her
benefit form the money she makes
sold her when they wanted to settle down to a man names Phyrnion
he was abusive, so she escapes to city of Megara
What happens after Neaira leaves to Megara? 
She returns to Athens where she meet Stephanus
Stephanus pretends she is his wife, look after his children
he exploits her by hiring her as a sex worker, then blackmailing the clients
How does Neaira die? 
Her history is eventually found out, and she is taken to court
What was a liscence for debauchery in Rome? 
They were made for sex workers so the government could tax them appropriately, depending on how much they charge their clients
What was infamis? + what couldn’t you do  
A roman term
meant shameful
lost rights as a person
banned from marrying senator
couldn’t have a government job
What gives someone infamia? 
having a role where your body is controlled
prostitute
actor
charioteer
gladiador
What is a law made for high status families? 
That it’s illegal for A daughter to register as a prostiute
What is a meretrix? 
A sex worker in Rome
How would you recognise a meretrix? 
they wore a toga, which was recognisable as only Roma men wore togas
Good aspects of meretrix  
charge lots of money
Have a long term contract
Invited to dinners as a guest
Played important role in religious festival
bad things about meretrix life 
Work in brothel
Wear a toga as shame
What was a Lena ? 
Brothel Keeper who manages sex workers of any gender
Free woman
Shameful profession
Portrayed holding a money bag in plays because seen as greedy
Who is Cytheris?
born a slave
Famous as an actress (infamia)
Was beautiful
Who was Cytheris Leno? 
Publius Voluminous - her name Volumnia was taken from his name to show she is his possession
Freed from him when she was famous so she could pay a higher charge for her service
What was Cytheris relationship with Marc Antony? 
Scandal
She was his mistress
Brought her on his visits to armies
Julius Ceasear said that their relaitonship was public and personal, not private and professional
Who did Cytheris have a relationship with after Marc Antony? 
Cornelius Gallus
Politician and poet
Wrote about her, referring to her as Lycoris
Who was Cytheris indebted to? 
Her Leno Volumnius
Who is Clodia Metelli? 
Wealthy girl, free
Not a sexworker, but acted like one
Married to Metellus Celer
Brother Clodius was a politician