Hetaerist

/hɛˈtɛərɪst/ noun

Definition

A man who kept a hetaera as a companion; someone who maintained relationships with hetaerae; also, an advocate or practitioner of hetaerism.

Etymology

From 'hetaera' plus the suffix '-ist.' This historical and anthropological term describes men who participated in the hetaera system of ancient Greece, either as patrons or adherents of the practice.

Kelly Says

Ancient Athenian hetaerists published nothing praising their companions, yet we know they existed because their critics complained about them—historical records often only mention what was controversial, leaving the mundane relationships utterly invisible to history.

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