The hetaira in the ancient Greek world
This thesis is a study of the image and idea of the hetaira in Greek antiquity. I argue that the hetaira was primarily a product of classical Athenian democratic ideology, especially in terms of the construction of the Athenian <I>politeia</I> as an exclusive and impenetrable body. Using a wide range of sources, I relate the discourse and imagery of the hetaira to the Athenian cultural context and forms of social organisation. The image of the hetaira, I argue, belongs to a specifically democratic ideological rhetoric, and, as such, may not have been a category of identity used by the women who were actually described as hetairai. Instead, the hetaira was a strategically mobilised symbol, which acted as rhetorical 'other' to the Athenian wife. Hetairai became a highly resonant figure in the Athenian social imaginary. When democracy was effectively ended, in the late fourth century, images of hetairai, and women in general, became far more ambiguous. Conversely, I also argue that our sources present a particularly skewed perception of Athenian society, being the products of a politically active elite minority. In this sense, another aim of the thesis has been explore approaches to the study of Athenian democratic
Christodoulou, D.
The hetaira in the ancient Greek world. This thesis is a study of the image and idea of the hetaira in Greek antiquity. I argue that the hetaira was primarily a product of classical Athenian democratic ideology, especially in terms of the construction of the Athenian <I>politeia</I> as an exclusive and impenetrable body. Using a wide range of sources, I relate the discourse and imagery of the hetaira to the Athenian cultural context and forms of social organisation. The image of the hetaira, I argue, belongs to a specifically democratic ideological rhetoric, and, as such, may not have been a category of identity used by the women who were actually described as hetairai. Instead, the hetaira was a strategically mobilised symbol, which acted as rhetorical 'other' to the Athenian wife. Hetairai became a highly resonant figure in the Athenian social imaginary. When democracy was effectively ended, in the late fourth century, images of hetairai, and women in general, became far more ambiguous. Conversely, I also argue that our sources present a particularly skewed perception of Athenian society, being the products of a politically active elite minority. In this sense, another aim of the thesis has been explore approaches to the study of Athenian democratic
ancient_greek world study image idea greek antiquity argue primarily product classical_athenian democratic ideology especially term construction athenian exclusive body using wide_range_source relate discourse imagery athenian cultural_context form social_organisation image argue belong specifically democratic ideological rhetoric may category identity use woman actually describe instead strategically mobilise symbol act rhetorical other athenian wife become_highly figure athenian social imaginary democracy effectively end image woman general become far ambiguous conversely also_argue source present particularly perception athenian society product politically active elite minority sense another aim_explore approach study athenian democratic