hetaerae

hetaerae (hetairai, ‘female companions’), in Greece, a euphemistic name for prostitutes and courtesans. Many were musicians or dancers, hired to entertain at dinner parties. Some of them were highly accomplished and became known as the mistresses of distinguished men, as, for example, Aspasia (mistress of Periclēs), Lais (who loved Diogenēs the Cynic), Phrynē, and Leontion (who loved Epicurus). Hetaerae figured prominently as characters in New Comedy (see COMEDY, GREEK 6), where they inspired infatuation in young men, and are often credited with hearts of gold.