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Hetaira

"Hetaerism" redirects here. For the concept in anthropology, see Johann Jakob Bachofen.
Not to be confused with Hetaireia.

Greek hetaira and her client, approx. 430 BC. The fact that she is on the couch with him is telling, as wives were not allowed into the symposium.

A hetaira (/hɪˈtaɪrə/; Ancient Greek: ἑταίρα, lit. 'companion'; pl.. ἑταῖραι hetairai, /hɪˈtaɪraɪ/), Latinized as hetaera (/hɪˈtɪrə/ pl. hetaerae /hɪˈtɪriː/), was a type of courtesan or prostitute in ancient Greece, who served as an artist, entertainer, and conversationalist in addition to providing sexual service. Custom excluded the wives and daughters of Athenian citizens from the symposium, but this prohibition did not extend to hetairai, who were often foreign born and could be highly educated. Other female entertainers made appearances in the otherwise male domain, but hetairai joined the male guests in their sexual joking, sometimes evidencing a wide knowledge of literature in their contributions.

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