| Sumario: | For a long time, the classical profession of the hetaira , or paid female companion, has eluded definition. The hetaira has often been described as a 'courtesan' and her work as a 'form of prostitution', yet these appellatives often conflict with depictions of the hetaira by classical authors. Accordingly, in this article I will argue that the hetaira was perceived by the Greeks as an elite entertainer whose service of companionship emphasized flirtation and intimacy with a cultivated woman instead of the sale of sex. In order to demonstrate this understanding of the hetaira , I will cite evidence from a wide range of classical writings, particularly legal orations, and will ultimately propose that, when used to indicate a professional, the classical Greek term hetaira should be translated as 'entertainer'.
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