Prostitution in ancient Greece

Prostitution was a common aspect of ancient Greece. In the more important cities, and particularly the many ports, it employed a significant number of people and represented a notable part of economic activity. It was far from being clandestine; cities did not condemn brothels, but rather only instituted regulations on them.In Athens, the legendary lawmaker Solon is credited with having created state brothels with regulated prices. Prostitution involved both sexes differently; women of all ages and young men were prostitutes, for a predominantly male clientele.Simultaneously, extramarital relations with a free woman were severely dealt with. In the case of adultery, the cuckold had the legal right to kill the offender if caught in the act; the same went for rape. Female adulterers, and by extension prostitutes, were forbidden to marry or take part in public ceremonies. The average age of marriage being 30 for men, the young Athenian had no choice if he wanted to have sexual relations other than to turn to slaves or prostitutes.The existence of female prostitutes for a female clientele is not well documented. There is a mention of ἑταιρίστριαι (hetairistriai, ""she-minions"") in Plato's dialogue the Symposium, and these women are said to ""have no great fancy for men; they are inclined rather to women.""One can speculate that these she-minions were prostitutes for a lesbian clientele. Lucian touches on the practice in his Dialogue of Courtesans (V) but it is possible that he is simply alluding to Plato's passage.