The art of seduction: what getters actually did in ancient Greece. Who are hetaerae in Greek mythology and in the modern world? Hetaerae of Ancient Rome
in different historical times in the world lived women who stood out among others for their mental abilities and knowledge in relations with men. In Japan they are called geisha, and in Ancient Greece used the term - getters.
Who are the getters?
The fair sex, who led a free lifestyle and became mistresses for many men, was called hetaerae. Initially, this concept was applied only towards slaves, and then, he switched to free women. Hetera became an honorary profession. For the first time, the term began to be used in Ancient Greece, and then, it moved to other territories. To better understand who these hetaeras are, consider a few facts about them:
- Often such women played an important role in the social life of the city, as they had a good education, talents and intelligence.
- Courtesans could influence the fate of people, for which they spent some "evenings", where noble people of various professions gathered.
- Finding out who the hetaerae are, it is worth noting that such women could get married, but in most cases they themselves preferred to remain unmarried.
- The courtesans had rich patrons who fully provided them with everything they needed, but it is worth noting that the favor of such women is worth a lot.
Who is a hetaera in Greek mythology?
Women, who were called getters, were independent, which gave them the opportunity to engage in self-development, learn and spend time for their own pleasure. Ancient Greek getters differed significantly from married ladies, who in those days had practically no rights in comparison with their husbands. There were special schools for courtesans, where you could get the necessary knowledge. Understanding who the getters are in mythology, it is worth noting the fact that many of these women were not only the muses of poets and artists, but also the saviors of entire nations.
How to become hetero?
Many mistakenly believe that such women are "moths of the night." The fair sex, striving to become heterosexuals, must understand that it is necessary to develop in different directions. The thing is that they were not only good in carnal pleasures, but also in communication. Hetera women were distinguished by the fact that they were able to clearly and correctly express and formulate their own thoughts. They not only seduced the representatives of the stronger sex, but also gave them important tips and comfort in difficult times.
Heterosexual Secrets
- Courtesans in ancient Greece knew their worth and did not allow anyone to belittle their dignity. It is important not to confuse this quality with inflated self-esteem.
- A woman should be aware of her attractiveness, because each woman has her own unique zest.
- The hetaerae of the courtesan were always well-groomed and tidy.
- A woman should be cheerful and relaxed in order to serve not only as a muse, but also as a support for a man.
- It is important to be versatile in order not only to listen correctly, but also.
- Understanding who hetaeras are, it is worth noting that such women knew how to hook a man using compliments. The main thing is to talk about the virtues at the right time.
- One must know the difference between sexuality and vulgarity, for there must always be room for the imagination.
- Getters never showed all their skills and knowledge, trying to keep intrigue and be interesting.
Modern getters
Although the world is constantly changing, men still want to see a woman with them who will combine several important qualities: to be a good wife and mother of children, to be able to create comfort, maintain intellectual conversations and satisfy in bed. modern woman hetera is one that possesses to skillfully combine all of the indicated qualities that are important for the stronger sex. You should maintain this image throughout life and not relax so that the man is not interested in another.
Famous getters
In the days of Ancient Greece, many women proudly bore the title of "hetaera", but among them there are several famous people.
The word "HETERA" - hetaira - in ancient Greece meant "girlfriend, companion."
Such were these women for Greek men - for those, of course, who could afford this luxury.
The "erotic component" in the case of heterosexuals played, of course, essential role, but was still secondary. Intellectual and aesthetic communication with them was valued much higher than just a bed.
In the case when it was only about carnal satisfaction, the Athenians had much cheaper flutists and dancers at their service. But despite the fact that the getters could also dance and play on musical instruments(they specially studied this), most of all they were valued for their ability to conduct a conversation - moreover, often in serious, philosophical themes, for the breadth of interests and views that give rise to precisely that of their inner freedom, which strikingly distinguished the getters from the limited Athenian wives and vulgar prostitutes; for their lively and penetrating mind. That's what attracted and attracted men to them in the first place, like a magnet!
And therefore, men did not spare either huge money or expensive gifts to win their hearts. The purpose of hetaeras to be friends and worthy interlocutors of outstanding minds and figures of that time placed them in the social hierarchy much higher than ordinary women.
Thanks precisely to their high social status, getters could rotate in the highest, aristocratic circles of that time. Therefore, many of them played a significant role in public life and could influence prominent people.
All getters were educated, unmarried women leading an independent and free lifestyle. Thanks to noble and wealthy patrons, they lived comfortably, and even luxuriously. Having their own houses with servants and everything they needed, they could afford to “open”, as was the custom in Russia and France in the 18th and 19th centuries, their own “fashion salons”, where celebrities also gathered.
The favors of the getters were sought by poets, sculptors, and prominent ancient Greek politicians. Since the fate of the poorly educated legal wives of the Greeks was mainly only in housekeeping and raising children, then of course, they could not compete with talented and artistic beauties - "girlfriends" and "companions" who knew literature and arts, and primarily satisfied aesthetic and then only the carnal needs of men.
famous ancient greek political figure and the orator Demosthenes said that “a self-respecting Greek has three women: a wife - for procreation, a slave - for sensual pleasures, and a hetaera - for spiritual comfort.
The attention of these charming and smart "super - mega - sexy", famous men sometimes sought for a long time, far from immediately receiving consent. The enchantress could even refuse to communicate, and even more so from intimacy with a man if she did not like him.
Fans could express their dating proposals both verbally and writing. They could even write them on a special board (and, according to some sources, on a wall) exhibited for such purposes in the center of Athens.
In case of consent, the charmer signed the day, hour and place of the meeting under the proposal.
There are as many legends about getters as about ancient gods and heroes. They are sometimes called kept women and prostitutes, sometimes the most educated and progressive women of their time. The orator Demosthenes, speaking in court in defense of Neera's hetaera, argued: "Everyone needs hetaeras for joy!" What joys did men bring getters And what were they really doing?
Translated from ancient Greek, hetaera is a “girlfriend”. These women led a free lifestyle, in contrast to the wives, who became recluses immediately after marriage and were exclusively engaged in children and housework. Getters were well versed in music, literature, philosophy and art. They could maintain a dialogue on any topic, their intellectual development was not inferior to that of men.
Can heterosexuals be called prostitutes? The fact is that hetaerae stood on a higher rung of the social ladder than prostitutes from brothels, and were respected in society. Prominent statesmen, philosophers and writers consulted with them. In addition, they had the right to choose their companions, refused those they did not like, and for a long time remained close to those they loved.
They became real muses for men. Epicurus remained faithful to the hetaera Leontia all his life and said of her: "She lives with me and in me." The Athenian commander Pericles was married to the hetaera Aspasia, often consulted with her in solving state problems, she helped him prepare speeches for speeches. The Byzantine Empress Theodora was a heterosexual before her marriage. Hetera Thais of Athens - a friend of Alexander the Great - after his death became the wife of the Egyptian king Ptolemy I.
Phryne, who was called the most famous and beautiful hetero of Athens, became a model for Praxiteles, who sculpted a statue of Aphrodite, for which she was accused of blasphemy. She appeared before the court, but she was acquitted - she was naked before sentencing and subdued the judges. Phryne herself set the price for her services - the king of Lydia had to raise taxes in the country because of the “fee” paid in order to replenish the budget, and Diogenes did not cost money, because Phryne admired his mind.
Of course, it is hardly possible to judge all heterosexuals only by the most famous and worthy representatives of this kind of occupation. In the era of antiquity, the idea of selling love was treated without prejudice. At the temples of Aphrodite in Greece and Venus in Rome, hundreds of heterosexuals served, providing intimate services.
However, in the era of antiquity, the getters had opponents. The Cynics (philosophical school) often opposed them. Crates said that the statue of Phryne is a monument to Greek debauchery, ridiculed her love of gold and coldness. Diogenes, in a dialogue with another philosopher, was indignant: “How can you be close to sh..hoy? Either become a cynic or stop using it."
You can call them whatever you like, but the role played by getters in ancient history and culture cannot be denied. More or less than - you decide.
The debate about this continues to this day. They are led by historians, Greek scholars, writers and ordinary people. An educated, unmarried, free-minded woman, leading an absolutely independent lifestyle. These are considered the getters of ancient Greece. Among these ladies were those who played fundamental roles in the public life of Greece. The houses of such hetaeras were the center for communication between politicians, artists, and public figures.
Translated from the ancient Greek language, the word "getera" means "girlfriend." Getters were kept by wealthy patrons. Is this all independence? But how did these women manage to gather such influential people around them, to be participants in discussions of public life not only of any policy, but of the country as a whole? All thanks to their intelligence, education and quick wit.
To get the favor of such women, you had to pay a lot of money. Historians have identified cases when men carved on stone slabs the prices offered to getters for their society. However, you should not think that hetaerae were banal prostitutes. It is believed that it is impossible to call them women of easy virtue. They were given only to those with whom they were connected by love feelings. And one more argument in favor of the fact that heterosexuals cannot be called representatives of the first ancient profession, that prostitutes really “worked” in parallel with them, in the very understanding that modern people are used to knowing.
Poets wrote poems about them
Demosthenes, an ancient Greek orator, liked to say that Greek men should have 3 women at once. One of them is the successor of the family and was official wife. The other is a comfort slave in bed. The third is a getter. Here in it the thinker saw the achievement of spiritual comfort.
Getters were not forbidden to marry. So, Pericles had a wife from a number of hetaerae. Her name was Aspasia. This very clever woman shone with beauty, was educated. According to some historians, hetaerae were "born" at the behest of slave mistresses. The girls were trained and released into the wild, or immediately given to a worthy patron.
The cult of heterosexuals was associated with Aphrodite herself. Historians and Greek scholars find references to these women in monuments dated many centuries BC. They lived in the time of Solon. It was quite easy for them to get into Athens. To do this, they needed to apply a little intelligence, the subtleties of communication with the greatest men. So they quickly achieved political influence. They were honored, statues were created, poems and entire poems were dedicated to them.
Among the names of the most famous getters: Mirrina, Leena, Aspasia, Lamia, Laida, Faida, Phryne, Fargelia. However, there were in the ranks of "admirers" heterosexuals and those who called them simple whores. But historians, nevertheless, say otherwise. These are educated, well-read and even progressive women of their time.
By the way, hetaera favorably differed from wives. Those, as soon as they fell under the protection of their husbands, became, one might say, recluses. They ran the household, gave birth and looked after the children. Getters remained free. These women were active public life, and they could not be called recluses, even despite the increased patronage from influential statesmen.
Getters were well versed in philosophy, art, music, literature. They conducted dialogues about “high”, while in intellectual development they were not inferior to men, and in many ways even surpassed them.
Why can't they be called prostitutes?
Everything is very simple. Prostitutes of ancient Greece, as in our standard, modern understanding, played only the role of satisfying the physiological needs of men. They were not required to conduct "high" conversations about the arts, crafts, culture different countries Or even philosophizing.
Getters were much more intelligent than prostitutes and performed the role of interlocutors rather than comforters in physiological terms. In the social ladder, they stood above the standard whores by several steps. By the way, hetaeras were much more respected in society than prostitutes. What is even worth it is that the great figures of politics, philosophy, and literature often consulted with getters.
Hetaeras could refuse those who they did not like, but were faithful to their beloved, remaining constantly next to them. Getters easily wrote speeches to politicians for their speeches. By the way, getters also created speeches for themselves. For example, the Byzantine Empress Theodora in her youth was a hetero. Yes, and a friend of Macedonian is known for her unusual beauty and brilliant mind. It's easy to guess. And she was hetero. Thais of Athens, after the death of Alexander the Great, married the king of Egypt, Ptolemy the First.
Phryne, the most famous Athenian hetaera, was very beautiful and even became a model for the sculptor who creates the statue of Aphrodite. For this, the public hated Frina and even accused her of illegal actions. Hetera was put on trial, but was acquitted. Why? Just got naked in front of the chief judge.
By the way, Phryne set a price for her services to the king of Lydia. The fee turned out to be so significant that the country had to significantly raise taxes. Otherwise, the budget would not have been able to meet the basic needs of the population. But Diogenes, whose mind Phryne admired, was honored to use the services of a hetaera absolutely free.
By the way, historians do not advise judging the activities of heterosexuals only by the above-mentioned persons. IN ancient greece the opportunity to "buy" love was treated very condescendingly and indulgently to these facts. Getters often provided services of an intimate nature. At the same time, they were servants of famous temples: Aphrodite, Venus
Getters did not flourish at all times
In the era of Antiquity, smart and educated ladies who, at will, provided intimate services, had ardent opponents. They were in philosophical school Kinikov. Representatives of this community considered hetaera dissolute, as well as adherents to gaining benefits for the sake of benefits. Phryne was condemned for posing, and the monument to Aphrodite, created in her image, was called a disgrace, ridiculed.
Diogenes was also an opponent of the heterosexuals. He often entered into dialogues with philosophers of other schools and teachings and did not stop scolding them for their connections with hetaerae, calling them whores. And he also claimed that these women are being used. In the literal and figurative sense.
Getters were credited not only with exclusively feminine, loving qualities, intelligence and prudence, but also courage, courage, the ability to dare, pride, mischief and even some rebelliousness and despair.
Plutarch wrote in his memoirs about a maiden named Thais, a friend of Macedon. During the feast in the palace, the girl behaved rather cheekily and impudently. At the same time, she seemed cunning and quirky, quite smart. She managed to glorify Alexander, and made fun of him, and very caustically. Everyone laughed, and some even laughed Homeric.
In retaliation for King Xerox, Thais, when all the guests, and she herself, were already pretty tipsy, offered to burn the palace. And she volunteered to do everything herself. “So the Persians were avenged for Greece,” wrote Plutarch. At the same time, Thais had a very warlike appearance. During her speech, she kept shaking the torch in her hand. A moment later, the Persian palace was on fire.
It is believed that by their actions, hetaeras could inspire warriors and great politicians to various "feats". However, they did not always have destructive goals. Theodora, the Empress of Byzantium, in the past a getter, was so wise that she only created. Once she threw a phrase to the King of Bulgaria that condoned the prevention of a paramilitary conflict and prevented the destruction of the state.
So, it was enough for her to just say: “If you win, everyone will talk about defeating a weak woman, and if you fail, then people will say that the woman defeated you!” So the king realized that any outcome of the attack is fatal and is a deliberate loss. The king then declared that Theodora was famous not for strength, in the direct sense, but for strength of mind and wisdom.
Getters, very smart and well-read, managed not only to shine with their own beauty and ingenuity. Showing their feminine weakness and by virtue of their wisdom, they made men seem smarter. “Let a man be strong and powerful and successfully demonstrate this in front of everyone, but I won’t be afraid to seem a little dumber, while in fact it’s the other way around,” many hetaeras thought and won a lot due to this.
By the way, Greek hetaerae often compared to Japanese geishas. Without them, the chosen ones were bored to spend their evenings and nights. While conversations with getters were very entertaining and exciting. Getters were perfectly able not only to speak, but also to listen to their patrons. And this important feature made them even brighter, more beautiful, smarter in the eyes of the chosen ones.
What could be wiser than agreeing with the opponent's opinion in a dispute, but secretly sticking to your own? Friendliness, ease of communication, perfect mastery of art love pleasures. All this made the heterosexuals irreplaceable friends and muses.
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