Many became accomplished as poets, novelists, philosophers, wits, painters. Unlike most upper class women, courtesans were allowed to mingle freely with men, attend salons, frequent cafes and artist’s studios, speak openly about forbidden subjects and hence were privy to an education rare for their gender. Often born to poverty, these women rose to unimaginable heights, gaining great personal wealth and fame. From this time until the first decades of the 20th century, courtesans were kept by wealthy and powerful men, including kings and emperors, princes, aristocrats, entrepreneurs, statesmen, artists and writers. The tradition began in ancient Greece, in a time when sexuality and spirituality were not divided and where many courtesans were also priestesses of Aphrodite.
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