Courtesanship

See also Mistresses, Prostitution.

Aspasia

mistress of Pericles; byword for cultured courtesan. [Gk. Hist.: Benét, 58]

Camille

beautiful courtesan, the toast of Paris. [Fr. Lit.: Camille]

Lais

celebrated Thessalonian courtesan, so beautiful the townswomen kill her out of jealousy. [Gk. Hist.: Benét, 561]

Lescaut, Manon

lives well by giving affections to noblemen. [Fr. Lit.: Mahon Lescaut]

Marneffe, Madame

as courtesan for barons, she obtains wealth. [Fr. Lit.: Cousin Bette, Magill I, 166–168]

Phryne

(4th century B.C.) wealthy Athenian hetaera of surpassing beauty. [Gk. Hist.: Benét, 784]

Rosette

D’Albert’s pliable, versatile, talented, acknowledged bedmate. [Fr. Lit.: Mademoiselle de Maupin. Magill I, 542–543]

Thaïs

Alexandrian courtesan, converts to Christianity. [Medieval Legend: Walsh Classical, 307]

Vasantasena

lovely courtesan whose many adventures culminate in an edict freeing her from her courtesan status. [Sanskrit Lit.: The Little Clay Cart in Haydn & Fuller, 432]

Violetta

prosperous courtesan in fashionable Paris. [Ital. Opera: Verdi La Traviata in Benét, 1022]

Mentioned in

References in periodicals archive

(26) This seems to have been true for many global courtesan traditions historically: Bonnie Gordon and Martha Feldman refer to the "perilous duet" of music and eros that seems to characterize most traditions of world courtesanship. See their introduction to The Courtesan's Arts, 10.

Music and dance in the Japanese military "comfort women" system: a case study in the performing arts, war, and sexual violence

He becomes a connoisseur of art, philosophy, gastronomy, courtesanship, and gossip, but his dabbling produces a severe case of the malady of the century: ennui.

Jose Maria de Eca de Queiros. The City and the Mountains

In rural areas single women maintain themselves through courtesanship or selling miraa (Dahl, 1979).

Women's Income and the Livelihood Strategies of Dispossessed Pastoralists Near the Mkomazi Game Reserve, Tanzania

All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.