Term [ | ]

The main characteristic of “honest courtesans” is cortigiane oneste- consisted in the fact that they were supported by one or more wealthy patrons, usually from the upper class. The “honest” courtesan had her own certain independence and had freedom of movement. She was trained in the rules of good behavior, knew how to conduct table conversation, and sometimes was the owner of high culture and literary talent. (In this plan cortigiane oneste- a kind of Italian analogue of Japanese tayu.)

In some cases, courtesans did not come from a lower society and were even married, but their husbands were at lower levels of the social ladder than their patrons. Not all courtesans had sex with their patrons [ ] . There are known cases when they had girls with them “for a social occasion” and took them to parties with them.

Some of the most famous courtesans were on government pay for reporting the contents of private conversations that could be of interest for blackmail and other purposes.

In literature, opera, films[ | ]

Novelists often made courtesans the heroines of their works.

• One of the novels of the French classic Honore de Balzac, included in his cycle “ Human Comedy“,” is called “The Splendor and Poverty of Courtesans” (1838-1847). The main character of the work is a courtesan Esther.
• Alexandre Dumas the son dedicated the novel “The Lady of the Camellias” to the courtesans. As a prototype main character became his mistress, the famous Parisian courtesan Marie Duplessis. Composer Giuseppe Verdi created the opera La Traviata based on this plot in 1853.
• Manon Lescaut in a novel by the Abbé Prévost entitled "History of the Chevalier des Grieux and Manon Lescaut" (1731). Based on this plot, composers Jules Massenet and Giacomo Puccini created the operas of the same name “Manon” (1884) and “Manon Lescaut” (1893), choreographer Kenneth MacMillan created a ballet of the same name in 1974.
• Marion Delorme in the play of the same name by Victor Hugo.
• Nana in the novel of the same name by Émile Zola.
• Satin performed by Nicole Kidman - in the musical “Moulin Rouge!” »
• Inara- courtesan of the future in the television series "

The word "courtesan" in the mid-sixteenth century meant a high-class mistress, primarily associated with the rich, strongmen of the world this, men of the upper class, who, in exchange for love pleasures, strewn her with jewelry and gave her status in society. In Renaissance Europe, courtesans played an important role in aristocratic society, sometimes even acting as wives at public functions. Since it was customary at the time for royal couples to lead separate lives - marrying mainly to avoid losing the royal bloodline and to cement political alliances - the men usually sought the friendship of the courtesans. In Mughal India, the practice of courtesans was widespread before the beginning of British rule. Here they were called tawaif and, above all, they were very skilled dancers. There are several in history individual cases, when courtesans were the companions of rich women.

Courtesans could enjoy to a greater extent freedom than ordinary women of their time. For example, they were independent and had a stable financial situation. Controlling all the funds they spent themselves, they did not rely on their husbands or other male relatives, as most women did.

In general, there were two types of courtesans. The first category of girls, known in Italy as cortigiana onesta, or honest courtesan, were considered intellectuals. The latter were called cortigiana di lume, and were considered courtesans of the lower class. Despite the fact that the latter were still considered a class above ordinary ladies of easy virtue, the former were usually romanticized and even, to one degree or another, equated with women of the royal family. It is with this type of servant of beauty that the concept of “courtesan art” is associated.

Representatives of the cortigiani onesti were usually well educated, sometimes even better than the average young lady from high society, and were constantly engaged in parallel activities, being artists or actresses. They were usually selected based on the parameters of upbringing: social skills, communication skills, intelligence, feelings common sense, friendliness, as well as their physical characteristics. It was usually their wit and personal qualities that set them apart from ordinary women. Intimate service was also included in the duties, but was not a particular task. For example, they had to always be well dressed and ready to talk on any topic from politics to music.

In some cases, courtesans were born into wealthy families and even married, but to a man below them on the social ladder, and not to their clients. Under such conditions, their relationships with those who had high social status, usually resulted in an increase in the status of their spouses. But most often, spouses were afraid of such activities of their wives, so many courtesans remained unmarried.

With the fall of most monarchies and the rise of democratic societies, the role of courtesans changed. Now they played the role of spies - the most typical example is Mata Hari. Today you can still find courtesans of the old style, but they are extremely rare.

The word "courtesan" was also commonly used in a political context to damage or humiliate a woman's reputation. The most notable examples of this were the attribution of a similar label to the Byzantine Empress Theodora, who began her career as a burlesque actress but later became the wife of Emperor Justinian and, after her death, an Orthodox saint.

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Meaning of the word courtesan

courtesan in the crossword dictionary

Explanatory dictionary of the Russian language. D.N. Ushakov

courtesan

courtesans, women (French courtisane) (book obsolete). Lung woman behavior, by way of life belonging to the highest, high-society hetaeras of society. French courtesans of the 18th century.

Explanatory dictionary of the Russian language. S.I.Ozhegov, N.Yu.Shvedova.

courtesan

And, well. (obsolete). A woman of easy virtue who has patrons in high society.

New explanatory dictionary of the Russian language, T. F. Efremova.

courtesan

and. outdated

A woman of easy virtue, moving in high society.

Wikipedia

Courtesan Courtesan

Examples of the use of the word courtesan in literature.

Never before had Anjou looked so little like a king, now he resembled more courtesan.

You have to be richer than the king to courtesan I realized that she was gifted, but even if you give her half the world, she will thank herself, praise her for her luck and be proud of the beauty and cunning that made you fork out so much.

Actresses, debutantes, maids, adventuresses, courtesans- in 1847-1850 he seemed to be tormented by an insatiable lust.

Iago, Othello's aide-de-camp Rodrigo, Venetian nobleman Doge of Venice Senators Montano, Othello's predecessor in governing Cyprus Gratiano, Brabantio's brother Lodovico, Brabantio's relative the Jester, Othello's servant Desdemona, Othello's wife Emilia, Iago's wife Bianca, courtesan Sailor, messenger, herald, officers, nobles, musicians and servants. Scene: Venice and Cyprus.

So, maybe Glikeria Andreevna is not only a recluse, but also courtesan?

What do you think, madam? courtesan with lotus legs, receiving courteous visitors?

If they forbid love, but not sex, then they are a license to promiscuity, a license from which some sailors and soldiers and tramps take every advantage, and from which prostitutes and courtesans used to ensure existence.

Neither the sweet gaiety of a rosy-cheeked peasant woman, nor the serpentine grace of a dancer, nor the languidly weakening wave of her hand courtesans, nor the charm of a fading autumn garden, nor the sunset spreading a purple cloak over the lake - none of these colors would be needed to paint her portrait.

The Spanish Mad King, and broken beer bottles will be cemented into these walls so that no one will ever be able to get into the girth of her legs except the Sultan's penis, he will be the only one who will touch the juices that she is flowing now, and then he will go to his grave in which there will be no juices, and there will soon be no juices left in her grave after those dark juices that are so prized by worms disappear, then dust, atoms of dust, and whether these atoms are atoms of dust or atoms of thighs and vaginas and penises, what difference does it make, all this is the Ship of Heaven - The whole world roars here, in this theater, and looking into the distance I see countless grieving humanity whimpering in the light of candles, and Jesus on the Cross, and Buddha sitting under the Bo tree, and Mohammed in the cave, and a snake, and the sun rising high, and all the Akkadian-Sumerian antiquities, and ancient ships taking away courtesan Elena away from contractions last war, and the broken glass of tiny infinity so tiny that there is nothing left except the snow-white light penetrating everywhere

Let geisha entertain only the minds and lift the spirits of men with their beauty, grace and artistry, and courtesans satisfy the body with their beauty, grace and the same artistry.

This is a rather banal story about courtesan, who is restored to purity by her love for a chaste and strict young man.

You know yourself that she was a harlot courtesan, who held the salon.

Mateo Colon was appointed head of the Department of Surgery, the University became a brothel with peasant women coming in and out, courtesans.

Beautiful courtesan, the Greek Euthybides, reclined on purple soft cushions in the interview room in her house on the Sacred Street, near the Temple of Janus.

Just this gladiator who despised her was the only person, for whom she had some kind of feeling, and then a whim courtesans gradually and unconsciously grew into real passion, terrible and dangerous, because it burned in a vicious soul.

Many people probably know who a courtesan is. Some are from films about medieval European countries, and others are from history itself. But does everyone know about the subtlety of such a calling in those years? After all past world looked at the courtesans ambiguously, simultaneously condemning their way of life and their moral laws, but also supporting them in every possible way.

A courtesan is a woman without a permanent partner, who is not married or ignores marital ties. Courtesans had a large number of sexual relationships, which they did not even hide from the public. They were condemned and despised, but even monarchs constantly supported their fashion different countries. As a rule, almost every fourth European country had its own history of the development of such moral nonsense and its own courtesans.

Different countries, different customs... And only courtesans at that time were the same, despite social status, family status and age. They were loved and despised, they were admired, and they were constantly condemned. A courtesan is that woman, a girl who one day is the queen of the world, and the next may be dying in a run-down hospital from a fatal venereal disease. These are the women who could never be completely sure of anything. They were prayed for, but at the same time they were driven out of their own homes as soon as they ceased to be beautiful and flourishing.

The most interesting information about courtesans are not always present in history books. For example, at the beginning of the sixteenth century in Italy, a decree was issued by the monarch that all courtesans of certain quarters were obliged to sit near the window during the day and expose their breasts and legs. The goal of the country's authorities was not exactly general depravity, but something similar to it. In this way, religious representatives fought against homosexuality, which had simply become widespread.

And in France, courtesans often became public and famous favorites of the king, whom all the other ladies of the country, including the queen, tried to be like. It was the courtesans who inspired many famous writers and composers for writing brilliant masterpieces of art that we admire to this day.

The courtesan is a priestess of love, but also one who has completely squandered her feelings for money, social status or sparkling diamonds. Ordinary women they were not forgiven, ordinary men loved them, but never married such people. These women amazed everyone with their intelligence, because they often had an excellent education and were well versed in the art of maintaining any conversation.

Courtesan sounds beautiful and graceful, especially in comparison with today’s name for a similar “specialty.” But is it possible to compare a medieval courtesan with a modern worker in the sphere of love?! Where have the charm, erudition, ability to listen and inspire gone? Prostitutes were considered sinners at any time, but in medieval times their appearance and intelligence forced princes and monarchs to bow before them. But today’s “priestesses of love” just can’t do that.

Hetaeras, geishas, ​​courtesans - such definitions are usually given to women who wanted and were able to create their own external attractiveness in combination with high level intelligence by their profession, that is, a means of gaining The difference between them and ordinary prostitutes lies in the expansion of the range of services they offer. The average “fallen woman” cannot (or does not want) to provide the client with anything other than her body. It is possible to understand who a courtesan is only by delving into the historical circumstances of the emergence of this complex craft, which sometimes borders on art.

Antique hetaeras

In those ancient times, there were also courtesans, but they were called differently - getteras. Their duties included delivering, in addition to physical joys, also spiritual pleasures. Among these were successful remarks in the course of emerging philosophical discussions, while the remarks could be caustic. After all, a true sage always took special pleasure in possessing a woman who was witty and ironic. And Sophocles, and Plato, and Epicurus were not alien to these pleasures, combining spending time together with sharpening the minds of their kept charges, on whom they did not skimp in their generosity. The most famous in this field is Aspasia, who eventually achieved that Pericles separated from his wife, with whom he had lived for many years, and married her. Her enlightenment was so high that Anaxagoras, Socrates and Euripides came to the philosophical lectures given by her, obviously not without benefit for themselves.

Japanese geisha

You can understand who a courtesan is using the example of geishas. This venerable profession requires an impeccable knowledge of etiquette, which in the Country Rising Sun successfully replaces the ability to conduct sophisticated polemics, and in addition, a high intellectual level combined with refined taste. Japanese wives, recognizing the superiority of geishas in these areas, do not object to such male weaknesses, treat them with understanding and can even boast of having such an interesting girlfriend with their husband, however, with the modesty characteristic of this people. After all, this fact testifies not only to the sophistication of the husband’s worldview, but also to his financial strength. Not every Japanese has a geisha, after all!

Institute of Noble Courtesans

This phenomenon flourished most in France. late XVIII and the beginning of the 19th century, at least if you trust the classics European literature. The Italian concept of Cortigiane in Russian transcription sounds like “courtesan”. The meaning of the word is “courtier,” which hints at a certain privileged status. Such a woman lived at the expense of a patron with whom, as they would say now, she was “friends.” A man with sufficient means shared more than just that with her. He confided in the courtesan his thoughts, hopes, and aspirations. In response, a man could receive not only gratitude, sympathy and warmth, but also less pleasant things, for example, insidious betrayal or reproaches, but this only added spice to the relationship, and this was so lacking in the jaded nobles.

In order not to be subjected to such humiliation, the wise man, for example, voluntarily parted with his kept woman, realizing that he could not bear the burden of his “dear friend’s” expenses.

Paris, Paris...

Parisian courtesans in general were a special type of this “living commodity,” although they were, in turn, divided into two main subcategories. The main features that distinguished them, of course, were personal qualities. The price that men were willing to pay for her favor depended on how much such a woman knew, whether she was younger and more beautiful than others. Nobility of origin did not play a role. Moreover, researchers of the era, who know first-hand who such a courtesan is, agree that most often such women were born into poor families and that’s all, to put it again modern language, “we achieved it ourselves.” A striking example Celestina Venard, the daughter of a worker, who at the age of 14 was already engaged in prostitution, but, realizing the futility of this business (and having served time in prison), became first an actress, then a kept woman of the Duke, and then a countess. Such is the career.

Modern courtesan. Photo of the model

Are there courtesans today? Perhaps, in the original understanding of this word there is no. And the point is not that there are no women in society who have sufficient personal qualities, such as beauty and intelligence, and are ready to sacrifice certain things to achieve material well-being. moral principles. It’s just difficult to call them massive demand. IN spoken language and the press sometimes uses this word in the context: “Here is the billionaire oligarch (name), and next to him is his courtesan.” Photo showing happy couple, attached. But what does the reader see? A certain “model” with legs as long as molars, with a smile that could be tied in a knot at the back of her head, and an almost complete absence of thought on her plain, pretty face. Who is this? Courtesan? No, she’s just a kept woman, her “sponsor” won’t ask her for advice in a moment of difficult choice, and she’ll never be a countess.