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Key aspects of Neaera’s life
1- One of seven girls bought as a slave and worked as a prostitute (under age -12 years old)
2- Neaera taken with Nicarete (madam) to ceremony where she was a witness to her fellow
sisters initiation ( Metaneira)
3- (24) testimony- Neaera taken to the great Panathenaic festival and drank and dined in
presence of a large company- as a courtesan would.
4- (25) testimony -Neaera worked at Corninth as a prostitute and became famous.
Xenoclides the poet and Hipparchus used her services, but latter has been debarred.
5- After that she acquired two lovers Timanoridas of Corinth and Eucrates of Leucas. They
bought Neaera outright and used her until they were to be married.
6- They paid towards her freedom, but Neaera spoke to a former lover Phrynion to add the
rest to gain her freedom.
7- (33) testimony- Phrynion Lived with her in a dissolute way - still using her as a prostitute.
8-(35) testimony- treated brutally by Phrynion and therefore ran away.
9- Neaera spent 2years in Magara, but no success, could not go back to Corinth so stayed
until peace came.
10- Here is where Stephanus comes in as he put her up at his house as a prostitute and also
became her lover. She made Stephanus her protector against Phrynion. Stephanus said he
would take her as his wife and introduce their sons to the phratry and make citizens of
them.
11- They later arrived in Athens with 3 children- Proxenus, Ariston and Phano.
12- He took them to his house where he could use her as a mistress, prostitute and
housekeeper. This along with blackmail would provide the income - catching any stranger
with her as an adulterer and locking in the house extorting them. This kept them living well.
13- When Phrynion heard of this he went to the house. Stephanus asserted her freedom
and summoned her before the Polemarch (local magistrate)
14- Phrynion began a lawsuit against Stephanus on the grounds he had made a free woman
of her. This went to arbitration.
15- The decision taken was that, Neaera should be her own woman, but that goods taken
from Phrynion should be given back except clothed, jewellery and maid servants. She should
also spend the same number of days with each of them. Her upkeep should be provided by
the person with whom she was living at the time. Unless they come to a different
arrangement themselves.
16- Stephanus has given evidence to show she is an alien.
17- (50) He gave Phano away in marriage to an Athenian citizen named Phrastor along with
a dowry. She was not well behaved. He found out that Phano was the daughter of Neaera,
not Stephanus!
18- As a result he turned her away, pregnant and refused to return the dowry.
19- Stephanus began a lawsuit against him for alimony regarding the issue of the dowry.
While Phrastor brought an indictment against him for the betrothal of an non-citizen.
20- As a result Stephanus withdrew the charge as the result for this was severe.
21- (55) Phrastor was very ill at this time, without children and was seduced by Neaera and
Phano. During his illness he took them back and accepted the baby as his legitimate son. He
adopted the child so his relatives would not get his money. When he presented the child to
the phratry, they refused; knowing who the child belonged to.
22- As a result he began a lawsuit against them for refusing to register his son. On being
challenged by his family, Phrastor refused to take the oath swearing the child was rightfully
his.
23- When Phrastor was better, he took a wife who was legitimate. This shows that he was
put under pressure when ill and the decision was not voluntary.
24- Not content with this low moral behaviour, they gave Phano as a wife to the KingArchon under the same pretence of being his daughter.
25- As a result, this woman (Phano) performed the secret sacrifice for the safety of the state
and looked upon mysteries that she had no right (Only the wife of King-Archon could do
this). She administered oaths to priestesses, giving sacrifices to the Bride of Dionysus and
carried out ancestral religious duties.
26 - Law states that (85) when a woman is found with an adulterer, she is forbidden to
attend any public sacrifices, even those that the law permits an alien woman or slave to
attend. If she attends, she can receive any punishment short of death. (state does not want
to pollute the temple )
27- (87)- law on adultery states- if caught, he shall not be permitted to cohabit with his wife.
If he refuses, he shall be disenfranchised (loss of property and right to inherit). The woman
shall not be able to perform sacrifices and if she gains entrance she shall be liable to suffer
any ill-treatment short of death or impunity.
28-(110and 111) - summation of the argument.
29- (112 )- If you vote for acquittal there will be complete liberty to prostitutes to live as
wives with whom they please. You should also look to the interests of the women of this city
as the daughters of the poor are not deprived of the chance to marry. Prevent respectable
women acquiring the same standing as a prostitute.
30-(122 )- A SUMMING UP OF THE VIEWS OF ATHENS AND THAT OF MATRIMONY.
-Matrimony is - When a man begets children and presents his sons the Phratry and Deme,
and gives his daughters, as being his own, in marriage to their husbands.
- Hetaerae we keep for pleasure, concubines for daily attendance, but wives for the
procreation of legitimate children and to be the faithful guardians of the household.
HOW TO USE THE NEAERA SOURCE
What evidence in the source
deals with the legal issue of
citizenship?
What evidence deals with
religion / freedom / role of
wives?