Initially, the term referred to an ancient Greek social phenomenon, later, in a figurative sense, it spread to other cultures. In ancient Greece, the term was applied to an educated unmarried woman who led a free and independent lifestyle. Some of them played a significant role in public life. In their homes, the getters arranged meetings for many prominent ancient Greek politicians, poets, sculptors, etc. As a rule, the getter was kept by a wealthy patron. They paid a lot of money for their favor. Preserved stone slabs, on which men carved the price offered by one or another. But this was not prostitution in the traditional sense, since the getters lived sexually only with those patrons whom they loved, in parallel with them there were prostitutes. The ancient Greek orator and politician Demosthenes said that a self-respecting Greek has three women: a wife for procreation, a slave for sensual pleasures and a hetero for spiritual comfort.
Hetera could get married. So, the famous heterosexual Aspasia, known for intelligence, education and beauty, became the wife of the famous military leader M. Pericles. Geteru, as a rule, was brought up by a mistress from her slave, she taught her and set her free or gave her to a worthy patron.
Ancient Greek getters
Heterosexuals entertained, consoled, and educated men. Heterosexuals did not necessarily trade in the body, but rather generously enriched them with knowledge. Although Lucian of Samosatsky, a famous writer of antiquity, vulgarly ridiculed many ancient customs and exposed the hetaira as vulgar harlots, the hetaira could refuse intimacy with a man if she did not like him.
In Athens, there was a special board - Ceramics (according to some reports, a wall with proposals), where men wrote to getters about dating. If the getter agreed, then she signed the hour of the date under the proposal.
Famous getters of Ancient Greece
- Archeanassa - friend of the philosopher Plato
- Aspazia - which, despite her profession, was married to the head of Athens, Pericles
- Belistikha - a hetera of Pharaoh Ptolemy II, who was given divine honors in Egypt
- Bacchis - the faithful lover of the orator Hyperides, was known for her selflessness and kindness
- Herpilis - the mistress of the philosopher Aristotle and the mother of his son
- Glyceria - the concubine of the comedian Menander
- Gnatena - remarkable for her intelligence and eloquence, for a long time was the tyrannical mistress of the poet Diphil
- Cleonissa - wrote several works on philosophy that have not come down to us, however
- Lagiska - beloved rhetorician Isocrates and orator Demosthenes
- Laida of Corinth (Lais of Corinth) - the object of passion of the philosopher Aristippus
- Laida Sicilian (Lais of Hyccara) - the alleged model of the artist Apelles, killed in the temple of Aphrodite
- Lamia of Athens - who became the mistress of Demetrius Poliorketus in 306 BC. e., which also entertained him with playing the flute.
- Letala - the mistress of Lamalion
- Leena (Leaina) - bit off her tongue so as not to betray the conspiracy of Harmodius and Aristogiton, for this a statue was erected to her
- Leena of Athens - mistress of Demetrius Poliorketus
- Mania - she was called a bee for an unusually thin waist
- Megalostratus - the muse of the poet Alkman
- Menateira is the friend of the orator Lysis
- Milto - called Eastern Aspasia, was born in Phocis and was as beautiful as she was modest
- Neera (Neaira) - against which Demosthenes spoke in court, his speech is an important source of information about sexual life in ancient Greece
- Nikareta is the founder of the famous hetaira school in Corinth
- The cigarette was the mistress of the famous philosopher Stilpon from Megara. An excellent mathematician herself, she had a special inclination for everyone involved in this science.
- Pityonis - famous for royal luxury, which was surrounded by Garpalus, Alexander's representative in Babylon
- Sappho is a poetess, she graduated from a heterosexual school, but did not work by profession
- Thais of Athens - beloved of Alexander the Great and wife of Pharaoh Ptolemy I Soter
- Targelia - refused to betray her homeland to the Persian king Xerxes I. She was the mistress of almost all Greek commanders and, as Plutarch writes, she became, thanks to her intelligence and beauty, the queen of Thessaly
- Theodetta - dearly loved the brilliant Athenian commander Alcibiades and reverently paid him funeral honors
- Phryne is a model for the sculptor Praxiteles, who posed for the statue of Aphrodite. Due to the special profession of the model, the sculptor was summoned to court on the issue of the alleged insult of the deity. Praxitel pulled the veil from Phryne, and the court, seeing the divine beauty of her body, dropped the charge
- Elephantida - author of erotic guides
Heterae of Ancient Rome
- Lesbian - at Catullus (professional affiliation assumed)
- Kinthia - at Property
Hetera of Byzantium
- Empress Theodora (presumably not proven).
Difference from prostitution
They are distinguished from heterosexuals by their high education - they did not so much provide sexual services (and at their choice), as they entertained others with conversation, song or dance by analogy with geisha.
Other cultures
Hetera is also often used to describe temple prostitution, such as in ancient India.
In ancient India, getters, who, due to their age, could no longer perform their functions, worked in the royal spinning mills (Arthashastra ІІ.23).
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Notes
see also
Literature
- // Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron: in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - SPb. , 1890-1907.
Excerpt from Heather
When Anna Mikhailovna left with her son to Count Kirill Vladimirovich Bezukhoy, Countess Rostova sat alone for a long time, putting a handkerchief to her eyes. Finally, she called.“What are you, dear,” she said angrily to the girl who had kept herself waiting for several minutes. - Do you want to serve, or what? So I'll find you a place.
The countess was upset by the grief and humiliating poverty of her friend, and therefore was out of sorts, which was always expressed in her by the name of the maid "sweetheart" and "you."
“I'm sorry,” said the maid.
- Ask the count for me.
The count, waddling, approached his wife with a somewhat guilty look, as always.
- Well, Countess! What saute au madere of hazel grouses will be, ma chere! I tried; It was not for nothing that I gave a thousand rubles for Taraska. Worth it!
He sat down beside his wife, throwing his brave hands on his knees and ruffling his gray hair.
- What do you want, Countess?
- That's what, my friend, - what is it you got soiled here? She said, pointing to the vest. “That's sote, right,” she added, smiling. - Here's what, count: I need money.
Her face became sad.
- Ah, countess! ...
And the count fussed, taking out his wallet.
- I need a lot, Count, I need five hundred rubles.
And she, taking out a cambric handkerchief, rubbed her husband's vest with it.
- Now. Hey, who's there? - he shouted in such a voice as only people shout, confident that those whom they call will headlong rush to their call. - Send Mitenka to me!
Mitenka, that noble's son, brought up by the count, who was now in charge of all his affairs, entered the room with quiet steps.
“That's what, my dear,” the count said to the respectful young man as he entered. “Bring me…” he pondered. - Yes, 700 rubles, yes. Look, don't bring such tattered and dirty ones like that time, but good ones for the countess.
- Yes, Mitenka, please, to be clean, - said the Countess, sighing sadly.
- Your Excellency, when will you order the delivery? - said Mitenka. "If you please know that ... However, do not be so worried," he added, noticing how the count was already beginning to breathe heavily and rapidly, which was always a sign of the beginning of anger. - I was and forgot ... This minute, order to deliver?
- Yes, yes, then bring it. Give it to the Countess.
“What gold I have, this Mitenka,” added the count, smiling when the young man left. - It is not that it is impossible. I can't stand it. Everything is possible.
- Ah, money, count, money, how much sorrow they have in the world! Said the Countess. - And I really need this money.
“You, countess, are a well-known reel,” said the count, and, kissing his wife's hand, he went back into the study.
When Anna Mikhailovna returned from Bezukhoi again, the countess had money already, all in brand new pieces of paper, under a handkerchief on the table, and Anna Mikhailovna noticed that the countess was disturbed by something.
- Well, what, my friend? The countess asked.
- Oh, what a terrible position he is in! You cannot recognize him, he is so bad, so bad; I stayed for a minute and didn't say two words ...
“Annette, for God's sake, don’t refuse me,” the countess said suddenly, blushing, which was so strange in her middle-aged, thin and important face, taking money from under her kerchief.
Anna Mikhailovna instantly understood what was the matter, and she bent down to deftly hug the countess at the right moment.
- Here's to Boris from me, for sewing a uniform ...
Anna Mikhailovna was already hugging her and crying. The Countess was crying too. They cried that they were friendly; and that they are kind; and that they, friends of youth, are busy with such a low subject - money; and that their youth had passed ... But the tears of both were pleasant ...
Countess Rostova with her daughters and already with a large number of guests was sitting in the drawing-room. The count led the male guests into his study, offering them his hunting collection of Turkish pipes. From time to time he would go out and ask: had she arrived? They were expecting Marya Dmitrievna Akhrosimova, nicknamed le terrible dragon in society, [a terrible dragon] a lady famous not for her wealth, not for her honors, but for her directness of mind and frank simplicity of treatment. Marya Dmitrievna knew the royal family, she knew all of Moscow and all of Petersburg, and both cities, astonished at her, secretly laughed at her rudeness, told jokes about her; nevertheless, everyone, without exception, respected and feared her.
In an office full of smoke, there was talk about the war, which had been declared by the manifesto, about the recruitment. No one had read the manifesto yet, but everyone knew about its appearance. The count was sitting on an otoman between two neighbors who were smoking and talking. The count himself did not smoke and did not speak, but tilting his head, now on one side, then on the other, with visible pleasure looked at the smokers and listened to the conversation of his two neighbors, whom he pitted against each other.
One of the speakers was a civilian, with a wrinkled, bilious and shaved thin face, a man already approaching old age, although he was dressed like the most fashionable young man; he sat with his legs on an otoman with the air of a domestic man and, throwing amber far into his mouth from the side, impetuously sucked in the smoke and squinting. It was an old bachelor Shinshin, a cousin of the Countess, an evil tongue, as they used to say about him in Moscow drawing rooms. He seemed to condescend to his interlocutor. Another, fresh, pink, Guards officer, impeccably washed, buttoned up and combed, held amber at the middle of his mouth and with pink lips slightly pulled out the smoke, releasing it in rings from his beautiful mouth. It was that Lieutenant Berg, an officer of the Semyonovsky regiment, with whom Boris was traveling with the regiment and with whom Natasha teased Vera, the senior countess, calling Berg her fiancé. The Count sat between them and listened attentively. The earl's most enjoyable occupation, with the exception of playing Boston, which he loved very much, was the listening position, especially when he managed to play off two talkative interlocutors.
- Well, well, father, mon tres honorable [most respectable] Alphonse Karlych, - said Shinshin, laughing and combining (which was the peculiarity of his speech) the most popular Russian expressions with refined French phrases. - Vous comptez vous faire des rentes sur l "etat, [You expect to have income from the treasury,] do you want to receive income from the company?
- No, Pyotr Nikolaich, I just want to show that in the cavalry there are much fewer benefits against the infantry. Now understand, Pyotr Nikolaitch, my position ...
Berg always spoke very accurately, calmly and courteously. His conversation always concerned only him alone; he was always quietly silent while talking about something that had no direct relation to him. And he could be silent in this way for several hours, without experiencing and without producing the slightest confusion in others. But as soon as the conversation touched him personally, he began to speak at length and with visible pleasure.
- Consider my position, Pyotr Nikolaitch: if I were in the cavalry, I would receive no more than two hundred rubles a third, even with the rank of lieutenant; and now I get two hundred and thirty, - he said with a joyful, pleasant smile, looking around Shinshin and the count, as if it was obvious to him that his success would always be the main goal of the desires of all other people.
“In addition, Pyotr Nikolaich, having transferred to the Guard, I am in full view,” Berg continued, “and vacancies in the Guards Infantry are much more frequent. Then, figure out for yourself how I could get a job out of two hundred and thirty rubles. And I put it off and send it to my father again, ”he went on, putting on the ring.
- La balance at est ... [The balance is established ...] A German threshes a loaf on the butt, comme dit le proverbe, [as the proverb says,] - Shinshin said, shifting the amber to the other side of his mouth and winked at the count.
At different historical times, women lived in the world who stood out among others for their mental abilities and knowledge in relationships with men. In Japan they are called geishas, \u200b\u200band in Ancient Greece they used the term getters.
Who are these getters?
The fair sex, who led a free lifestyle and became mistresses for many men, were called getters. Initially, this concept was applied only in the direction of slaves, and then, he moved on to free women. Hetera has become an honorable profession. For the first time, the term began to be used in ancient Greece, and then, it passed to other territories. To better understand who these getters are, consider a few facts about them:
- Often such women played an important role in the public life of the city, since they possessed good education, talents and intelligence.
- Courtesans could influence the fate of people, for which they spent some "evenings" where noble people of different professions gathered.
- Finding out who the getters are, it is worth noting that such women could get married, but in most cases they themselves preferred to remain unmarried.
- 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 hetaira in Greek mythology?
Women, who were called getters, were independent, which gave them the opportunity to engage in self-development, study and spend time for their own pleasure. Ancient Greek getters differed significantly from married women, who at that time had practically no rights in comparison with their husbands. There were special courtesan schools where you could get the necessary knowledge. Understanding who are getters in mythology, it is worth noting the fact that many of these women were not only muses of poets and artists, but also saviors of entire nations.
How to become a heterosexual?
Many people mistakenly believe that such women are "night butterflies". The fair sex, striving to become getters, must understand that it is necessary to develop in different directions. The point is that they were not only good in carnal pleasures, but also in fellowship. Women getters differed in that they knew how to clearly and correctly express and formulate their own thoughts. They not only seduced the stronger sex, but also gave them important tipsand comforted in difficult times.
Getter 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 high self-esteem.
- A woman should be aware of her attractiveness, since every woman has her own unique flavor.
- Heterosexual courtesans 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 getters are, it is worth noting that such women knew how to hook a man using compliments. The main thing is to talk about the merits at the right time.
- You need to know the difference between sexuality and vulgarity, because there should always be room for imagination.
- Heterosexuals 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, be able to create comfort, maintain intellectual conversations and satisfy in bed. A modern hetaira woman is one who possesses to skillfully combine all these qualities that are important for the stronger sex. You should maintain such an image throughout life and not relax so that a man does not become interested in another.
Famous getters
During the days of Ancient Greece, many women proudly bore the title of "hetera", but among them several famous persons can be distinguished.
Disputes about this continue to this day. They are led by historians, Greek scholars, writers and ordinary people. An educated, unmarried, free-minded woman, leading a completely independent lifestyle. They are considered a heterosexual ancient greece... Among these ladies were also those who played fundamental roles in the social life of Greece. The houses of such heterosexuals were the center for communication between politicians, artists, and social activists.
Translated from the ancient Greek language, the word "hetera" means "girlfriend". Heterosexuals 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 polis, but also of the country as a whole? Everything is solely due to their intelligence, education and ingenuity.
To get the favor of such women, it was necessary 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 the getters were commonplace prostitutes. It is believed that they cannot be called women of easy virtue. They gave themselves only to those with whom they had love feelings. And one more argument in favor of the fact that heterosexuals cannot be called representatives of the first ancient profession, that in parallel with them prostitutes really "worked", in the very understanding that modern people are used to knowing.
Poets composed poems about them
Demosthenes - an ancient Greek orator used to say that Greek men need to have 3 women at once. One of them is the continuer of the family and was the official wife. The other is a slave for pleasure in bed. The third is a getter. Here the thinker saw the achievement of spiritual comfort.
Heterosexuals were not prohibited from marriage. So, Pericles had a wife from a number of heterosexuals. Her name was Aspasia. This very intelligent woman shone with beauty and was educated. According to the statements of some historians, getters were "born" at the behest of slave mistresses. The girls were trained and released, or immediately given to a worthy patron.
The cult of the heterosexual was associated with Aphrodite herself. Historians and Greek scholars find in the sources of monuments dated many centuries BC, references to these women. They lived in the days 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 gained political influence. They were honored, statues were created, poems and whole poems were dedicated to them.
Among the names of the most famous heterosexuals: Mirrina, Leena, Aspasia, Lamia, Laida, Faida, Phryne, Fargelia. However, there were in the ranks of the "admirers" of heterosexuals and those who called them simple whores. But historians, nevertheless, say the opposite. These are educated, well-read and even progressive women of their time.
By the way, getters favorably differed from wives. Those, as soon as they fell under the protection of their husbands, became, one might say, hermits. They kept house, gave birth and looked after children. Heterosexuals remained free. These women led an active social life, and they could not be called hermits, even despite the increased patronage from influential statesmen.
Heterosexuals 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 respects even surpassed them.
Why can't they be called prostitutes?
Everything is very simple. The 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 of different countries, or even philosophize.
Heterosexuals were much more intelligent than prostitutes and played the role of interlocutors rather than comforters in physiological terms. In the social ladder, they were several steps higher than the standard whores. By the way, getters were much more respected in society than prostitutes. What is even worth the fact that with getters often consulted the great leaders of politics, philosophy, literary affairs.
Heterosexuals could refuse those whom they did not like, but were faithful to their lovers, staying constantly with them. Heterosexuals easily wrote speeches to politicians for their speeches. By the way, getters also made speeches for themselves. For example, the Byzantine Empress Theodora was a heterosexual in her youth. And the Macedonian friend is known for her unusual beauty and brilliant mind. It's easy to guess. And she was a heterosexual. Thais of Athens, after the death of Alexander the Great, married the king of Egypt, Ptolemy the First.
Phryne, the most famous Athenian hetaira, was very beautiful and even became a model for the sculptor creating the statue of Aphrodite. For this, the public hated Frina and even accused her of illegal actions. Hetera was brought to trial, but was acquitted. Why? I just got naked in front of the head judge.
By the way, Phryne set a price for her services to the king of Lydia. The fee was so significant that the country had to significantly raise taxes. Otherwise, the budget was unable to meet the basic needs of the population. But Diogenes, whose intelligence Phryne admired, was honored to use the services of a getter absolutely free.
By the way, historians do not advise judging the activities of heterosexuals solely by the above persons. In ancient Greece, the opportunity to "buy" love was treated very condescendingly and conniving with these facts. Heterosexuals often provided intimate services. Moreover, they were servants of famous temples: Aphrodite, Venus
Heterosexuals have not prospered at all times
In the era of Antiquity, smart and educated ladies who provided intimate services at will had ardent opponents. They were in the Kinikov philosophical school. Members of this community viewed heterosexuals as licentious, as well as committed to benefit for the sake of benefit. Phryne was convicted of posing, and the monument to Aphrodite, created in her image, was called a shame, ridiculed.
Diogenes was also an opponent of the heterosexual. He often entered into dialogues with philosophers of other schools and teachings and did not stop scolding them for their connections with getters, calling them whores. And he also claimed that these women are being used. Literally and figuratively.
Heterosens were credited not only with exclusively feminine, amorous 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 the Macedonian. During the feast in the palace, the girl behaved quite cheekily and impudently. At the same time, she seemed cunning and dodgy, rather smart. She contrived to glorify Alexander, and made fun of him, and very tartly. Everybody laughed, and some even laughed homerically.
In revenge to Tsar Xerox, Thais, when all the guests, and she herself, were already pretty drunk, offered to burn the palace. And she volunteered to do everything with her own hand. “So the Persians were avenged for Greece,” wrote Plutarch. At the same time, Thais looked very warlike. During her speech every now and then she shook the torch in her hand. In another moment, the palace of the Persians was on fire.
It is believed that by their actions, getters 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 hetaira, was so wise that she only created. Once, she threw a phrase to the king of Bulgaria that condoned the prevention of a militarized conflict and prevented the destruction of the state.
So, all she had to do was say: “If you win, everyone will talk about victory over weak woman, and if you suffer defeat, then people will say that the woman defeated you! " So the king understood that any outcome of the attack is disastrous and is a deliberate loss. The king then said that Theodora is famous not for strength, in direct understanding, but for the strength of the mind and wisdom.
Heterosexuals, very intelligent 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 demonstrates this in front of everyone, and I’m not afraid to seem a little more stupid, while in fact the opposite is true,” many getters thought and won a lot due to this.
By the way, Greek heterosexuals are often compared to Japanese geishas. Without them, the chosen ones were bored to spend their evenings and nights. While the conversations with the getters were very entertaining and exciting. Heterosexuals perfectly knew how not only to speak, but also to listen to their patrons. And this important feature made them in the eyes of the chosen ones even brighter, more beautiful, smarter.
What could be wiser than agreeing with the opinion of your opponent in a dispute, but staying in secret? Kindness, ease of communication, perfect mastery of the art of love joys. All this made heterosexuals irreplaceable friends and muses.
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