PLACE OF WOMAN IN POLIS SOCIETY AND LEGAL INSTITUTE OF PROSTITUTION IN ATHENS IN 5TH CENTURY B.C.

Abstract

The article presents the women status in ancient society. It also makes an attempt to explore the relation between Athenian’s society democratic traditions and the identity of the phenomenon of an occurrence of legal prostitution in the ancient polis. Particularly it is investigated the question about how in a polis democracy the institute of legal prostitution was being formed. The question of the women status of in ancient society traditionally goes parallel with the question of the nature and essence of the ancient society itself. These are the reasons why the analysis of the place of women in the ancient polis is a traditionally popular topic among the antiquity scientists. In this article we disccuss one more side of an issue of the women status in ancient Greece. We try to examine the link between the low status of women and the process of formation and development of the institution of legal prostitution in the ancient polis. We primarily rely on sources related to the policy of Athens but also refer to the comparative analysis of the Spartan state. The ancient society comes from the patriarchal clan system by its nature. That is why it was full of numerous patriarchal traditions. These circumstances determined the relatively low social status of women and contributed to the emergence and spread of the Institute of prostitution in the ancient polis society. While Solon being an archon, there were made numerous deals in buying slaves in Asia especially for brothels — “dikterions”. The money, earned in such houses, was delivered to the state treasury. The Solon Laws were an example of state attempts to regulate the institute of prostitution in polis society. These laws were introduced to streamline, to take under control social disaster in order to prevent its further development. So, prostitution was legalized to struggle with promiscuity. Due to the severity of these laws, Dupui thought that married woman was protected from fornication. Courtesans were allowed to appear on the streets only in colorful, brightly colored clothes, not to look like respectable rich women. Thanks to ancient sources, we have information about the existence of certain categories of prostitutes in ancient Greece: “dikteriads”, “avletrids” and "straights". According to belonging to a particular category, courtesans had their traditions and way of living. The "dykteriads" represented the lowest level among prostitutes. This category united only poor girls. Houses brothels, where they provide their services, were subjected to state duty. The “avletrids” stayed separately. They were professional musicians, dancers and singers. Girls united in art unions and were invited to the feast of wealthy citizens. Only after the music program they proceeded to intimate services. The "straights" were of a great influence on the contemporaries among all categories of courtesans. There are numerous examples of the hetero influence on the ancient society and sometimes their prominent role in certain historical events. Their role in public life left a deep mark in history and contributed to the gradual change of traditional views on the status of women and their position in the ancient society. However, these changes are indirect evidence of the polis and the transformation of society.