Hetaerae

/hɛˈtɛəriː/ noun

Definition

Plural of 'hetaera'; multiple companions or courtesans in ancient Greece.

Etymology

The standard Greek plural form of 'hetaera,' using the feminine plural ending '-ae.' This form appears in English primarily in classical scholarship and historical texts discussing ancient Greek society.

Kelly Says

The hetaerae left their mark on history through Aspasia, the most famous hetaera, who became Pericles' companion and reportedly influenced Athenian democracy—a woman with no legal rights yet shaped one of history's most important city-states.

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