The Mimes of the Courtesans

By Lucian

Lucian of Samosata was a rhetorician and satirist who wrote in the Greek language. He is noted for his witty and scoffing nature. Although he wrote solely in Greek, he was ethnically Assyrian. Living at the height of the Roman Empire, the audience Lucian wrote for was hardly shocked by these short dialogues of the Greek hetaerae. However, two millenia of ensuing prudery made it impossible to acknowledge this part of the Lucian corpus, a set of humorous vignettes set in the context of the 'oldest profession,' let alone translate it into a vernacular language. These comedic sketches are timeless: working girls competing for clients, dishing gossip and candid tips of the trade, men trying to keep their girls' attention with expensive gifts. It also portrays the dark side of the hetaera's life: out-of-control parties, blowhard men, and putting up with rough treatment by clients.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Mar 21, 2014
• ISBN: 9781105861949

Lucian

Lucian (c. 125-180 C.E.) was an Assyrian satirist known for his humorous style and rhetorical mastery. Born in Samosata, modern day Turkey, Lucian was likely a native Syriac speaker who wrote in Ancient Greek under the rule of the Roman Empire. From a middle-class family, he was trained to be a sculptor but eventually moved to Ionia for higher education. After working for a time as a successful lecturer, he settled in Athens, where he wrote most of his literary works. Recognized for his invention of the comic dialogue, a parody of the Socratic dialogue, Lucian is predominately remembered for his novel True History, a satire now regarded as an early precursor to modern science fiction writing. Known for his irreverence and penchant for criticizing prominent writers, philosophers, and public figures, Lucian has served as an influence for Thomas More, William Shakespeare, Jonathan Swift, and François Rabelais.

Reviews for The Mimes of the Courtesans

[kukulaj · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a collection of 15 short dialogs among courtesans & their circle - lovers, mothers, and others... They're just little snapshots, a few pages. Very candid and earthy. Lots of art-deco type illustrations with bare breasts and bare asses. I didn't get any profound meaning out of this but it is a wonderfully lively portrayal of a facet of the society of Lucian's time.