Hetairae

The hetairae were the professional courtesans and high-ranking prostitutes of ancient Greece, prized for their intellect and charm as well as for their beauty and sexual favours. Of all the women in ancient Greece, they alone were allowed to join men at drinking parties known as symposia.

Hetaerae appear to have been regarded as distinct from pornê, or simple prostitutes, and also distinguished from mistresses or wives.

Highly educated in music, poetry, philosophy, and current events, hetairae were independent and oftentimes influential women whose opinions and beliefs were respected by men. One had to court the favours of the hetairae, whose company was in great demand.

Dolce Far Niente: It Is Sweet Doing Nothing

Luxuriance

Opulence

Extravagance

Abandon

Mata Hari

Mata Hari (Indonesian for 'sun': 'eye of the day'), was the stage name of Margaretha Geertruida Zelle (7 August 1876: the Netherlands ~ 15 October 1917: France). She moved to Paris in 1903 and by 1905 began to win fame as an exotic dancer. Her style and free-willed attitude made her very popular.

She was a courtesan to many high-ranking allied military officers during this time. On one occasion, when interviewed by British intelligence officers, she admitted to working as an agent for French military intelligence, although the latter would not confirm her story.

On 13 February 1917, Mata Hari was arrested in her room at the Hotel Plaza Athénée in Paris, accused of spying for Germany. She was found guilty and was executed by firing squad on 15 October 1917.

In 1985, biographer Russell Warren Howe convinced the French Minister of National Defense to open Mata Hari’s file; it was revealed she was innocent of espionage charges.

And To Work For A Pimp...

What motivated me to work for a pimp - however briefly - a few years ago?  He represented protection and stability, and  he made me feel special.  Of course, this had to do with the manipulative skills of pimps, but he was very good at at.  Working as a prostitute, particularly as a streetwalker, you can sometimes feel lost and alone, and when a pimp talks to you, he can make the future sound so much better, so you feel like hanging on to him.  And, for me, there is something very sexy about a pimp - he seems more masculine and stronger than a lot of other men, and as a sensitive lady, being around this type of man makes me feel safe.

There is another aspect to the relationship between a prostitute and her pimp which happens to be disturbing: violence, or at least the potential for violence.  This one particular pimp I worked for was not violent towards me.  (But then, I worked for him very briefly; he and his main lady were from out of state and invited me to accompany them back to their home town.  When I said "no", since I was content working in my own city, he accepted my response in a good-natured way.)

I'd had a previous encounter with another pimp, which scared me.  Although he did not hit me, he threatened to do so if I didn't bring him a certain amount of money.  When I got on the track that night, I mentioned this to the first trick who drove up to me, and he drove me to the apartment where I was living at the time.  (I was not living with this pimp - we had just met that same day - and he didn't know where I lived.)

Would I work for a pimp again?  This is not an easy question for me to answer.  My first response would be "no", since I do like my freedom to come and go as I wish, working my own hours; however, I also highly value and respect a strong man who could protect me and make me feel I can do my best in this world.

On My Being A Hooker: Enough Is Enough With Judgmental People...

Enough is enough with judgmental people putting me down because they think my lifestyle as a prostitute is risqué and not socially acceptable: who are they to judge? Come on: flatbacking is not the worst way to earn a living. I’m simply doing what I do in order to survive, and the fact that I enjoy being a hooker is no one’s business.

I’m a lady of the streets, and I can’t help it; this is the way I am. A white trash whore? Whatever. If you don’t approve of this, then keep your priggish, judgmental attitude to yourself.

Odalisque

An odalisque was a personal chambermaid of the concubines in the harem of a Turkish sultan, trained in the art of being a concubine, or courtesan. She would then sexually serve the sultan, which would result in the change of her status to concubine. If she gave birth to the sultan's son, she would then become one of his wives.

Today, odalisque refers to a woman who is the courtesan of a wealthy and powerful man.

To Be A Submissive

Some of us ladies who are courtesans - myself included - are submissives held in thrall by the magic of the forbidden. The taboo of BDSM is an irresistible lure into another, darker, yet enchanting world...







A wonderful and informative book about the world of BDSM: "Screw The Roses, Send Me The Thorns", by Philip Miller and Molly Devon...

Vintage French Postcards

The seductive allure of the courtesan is depicted beautifully in vintage French postcards: sexy, alluring, and charming.

Vintage Courtesan

"Sexual pleasure in woman is a kind of magic spell; it demands complete abandon; if words or movements oppose the magic of caresses, the spell is broken." (Simone de Beauvoir)


Friday is sacred to Venus, the goddess of love and beauty...The beauty of woman's sexuality was depicted exquisitely in vintage images from times gone by...

Cleopatra

Luxuriating in beauty treatments is essential to the courtesan; she knows this is a wonderful way to celebrate her sensuality.

Cleopatra, queen of Egypt, was known for her beautiful complexion. One of ancient Egypt's most effective skin treatments is still in use today: milk and honey.

Cleopatra's Milk And Honey Bath

1.) 2 cups of milk
2.) 2 tbls honey
3.) rosewater

Pour milk, honey, and rosewater into a warm bath before stepping into the water. Soak for at least 20 minutes. The honey will soften and the milk will exfoliate your skin.

Cleopatra's Milk And Honey Cleanser

1.) Half cup honey
2.) Half cup plain yogurt
3.) 3 teaspoons rosewater

After mixing, apply a small amount to the face and neck and massage gently.



The eyes are the most captivating feature, and a courtesan knows this well. In ancient Egypt, kohl was used to accentuate the eyes. Kohl is powdered antimony, a brittle metallic elementary body of bright bluish-white colour and flaky crystalline texture. Artemis Imports, a belly dance mail-order supply house, sells both light and darker grades of kohl of fine quality: http://www.artemisimports.com/

To apply kohl you need:
1) a small stick or large toothpick which has both ends rounded off. Place this in olive oil overnight so that it soaks into the wood. You may also use the olive oil to clean your stick after use.
2) a packet of kohl powder.

Hold stick in right hand to apply to right eye. Dip tip of stick into kohl powder. Hold stick parallel to eye, and starting at the inner point of the eye, run it between the eyelids. Re-powder stick, hold in left hand and repeat on left eye.



The secret to being a courtesan? Always pamper yourself: you deserve it.

Veronica Franco - Courtesan of Venice

"So sweet and delicious do I become,
when I am in bed with a man
who, I sense, loves and enjoys me,
that the pleasure I bring excels all delight,
so the knot of love, however tight
it seemed before, is tied tighter still."
— Veronica Franco (Poems and Selected Letters)



It is always inspiring to read about other courtesans. One of the most famous courtesans was Veronica Franco, who was born in Venice in 1546 and learned the art of being a courtesan from her mother, Paola Fracassa. Venice has always been a city of great culture and refinement, and Veronica Franco fit right in; in addition to being a courtesan, she was also a poet and musician and was also knowledgeable in Greek. These attributes served as her entrée into the ranks of the Venice nobility.

To be a courtesan of refinement and elegance will serve a woman well in her quest to engage in fulfilling relationships with men, since this enhances the passion generated by the deeply sexual and erotic nature of male-female intimacy.

The Art Of Being A Courtesan

Courtesan: the word conjures up images both exotic and erotic. And this is definitely the case. While "sacred prostitution" is a myth (in ancient times, there were no places of worship devoted to prostitution, despite claims made by some in the New Age movement), it is entirely possible for a woman to connect - or perhaps reconnect - with the erotic aspect of womanhood vis-a-vis her relationships with men. It is a way to bring joy and beauty into the male-female relationship. It is entirely appropriate to begin this blog on a Friday, since this is the day devoted to Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty.