The Historic Greek Courtesan Who Disrobed For Her Liberty

Phryne ancient greek courtesan
“Phryne before the Areopagus,” Jean Leon Gerome, 1861. Credit: General public Domain

Phryne the Thespian was a notable ancient Greek hetaira, or courtesan, of Athens, who is remembered all over the millennia for her dramatic trial which she won by baring her bare physique.

Her actual identify name was Mnesarete, but folks referred to her as Phryne (“toad”), because of the yellow undertone of her skin.

Her tale has survived for countless numbers of years, with the well known model and courtesan getting to be a symbol of independence from sexism, as effectively as repression disguised as piety.

Phryne was born around 371 BC in Thespiae (Boeotia), but spent most of her everyday living in Athens. For the reason that of her gorgeous seems, she became a model, posing for different painters and sculptors, including Praxiteles, who was also a single of her most frequent clientele.

Lifetime as an ancient

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