The word "COURTESAN"

So, we've been talking about other hobby related words, I'm curious as to people's thoughts about the word "Courtesan."

It was used in Renaissance Europe as a courtier, a person who attends to the higher society or powerful person came to known as the ruler's Mistress sounds classy than modern term for sure.

Please see my signature, infra.

Please see my signature, infra. Originally Posted by chicagoboy

I kid you not, cb, as I wrote the question, I HOPED you'd weigh in, LOL! I actually almost sent you a link.

xoxo,
LMx

It was used in Renaissance Europe as a courtier, a person who attends to the higher society or powerful person came to known as the ruler's Mistress sounds classy than modern term for sure. Originally Posted by Feisty Kat

Thanks for weighing, Kat! Would you ever use the term, yourself? If so, in what instances?

The word reminds me of the saying, "When in doubt, pinkie out."

Courtesan, or from the Greek ages, Hetaerae, as well as the Japanese term Oiran, I would think is clearly more of an intermittent close companion, to guys of higher income or other influence, as contrasted to other definitions that get thrown around. There’s simply more involved than bedroom activities for this type of relationship, to the extent that history is rife with references to specific gals of this nature, whom have had significant impact on world history.
So does a “kept” friend also fall within the concept? That’s perhaps the question of current societal norms. If she supports him in his goals, probably so.
I have a couple favorite reverences for historical courtesans, but I’ll spare you a dissertation as I'm only on my second cup of coffee. That said, I’d like to thank the Mod from the great northern frozen wastelands of the Midwest, that uses a roman emperors name as a handle, for recently reminding me of the French poet Baudelaire, who references the Greek courtesan Phryne in his work, Lesbos, in his collection: Flowers of Evil, for which I dug into my library for an old translation, and am currently going through again, found under a stack that had fallen over

Check out the movie Balls of Fury the "courtesans of pleasure" scenes are epic.

I hate seeing ads with the word courtesean. Sounds cheesey.

I hate seeing ads with the word courtesean. Sounds cheesey. Originally Posted by gimme_that

So, if I may ask, do you think there is any place for he term in the modern day world?

Courtesan, or from the Greek ages, Hetaerae, as well as the Japanese term Oiran, I would think is clearly more of an intermittent close companion, to guys of higher income or other influence, as contrasted to other definitions that get thrown around. There’s simply more involved than bedroom activities for this type of relationship, to the extent that history is rife with references to specific gals of this nature, whom have had significant impact on world history.
So does a “kept” friend also fall within the concept? That’s perhaps the question of current societal norms. If she supports him in his goals, probably so.
I have a couple favorite reverences for historical courtesans, but I’ll spare you a dissertation as I'm only on my second cup of coffee. That said, I’d like to thank the Mod from the great northern frozen wastelands of the Midwest, that uses a roman emperors name as a handle, for recently reminding me of the French poet Baudelaire, who references the Greek courtesan Phryne in his work, Lesbos, in his collection: Flowers of Evil, for which I dug into my library for an old translation, and am currently going through again, found under a stack that had fallen over Originally Posted by Unique_Carpenter

So, in a modern world...what would it take for a lady to be considered a courtesan? Must she also be a muse?

I love seeing a lady that is a courtesan. It is like staying in a luxury suite. They give it a fancy name then think they can charge double. But that goes make to the last BS thread.

Luxury Suite= Fancy Hotel Room

Courtesan= Fancy Whore

JMO

I think the term Courtesan, sounds higher class. As the previous poster stated. I don't think Street Walker would fit the term of Courtesan.

Courtesan= Fancy Whore
Originally Posted by ESwho'snext?

That was exactly the first thing that popped into my mind too. The word courtesan and GFE have both been so watered down and overused.

In the context of this board and others like it I think the word is misunderstood and overused as a means for providers who charge well above market rates to try to differentiate themselves for marketing purposes.

Most High Dollar "Hotties" would probably consider themselves "courtesans" though few if any, in my experience, deserve the title.

I like the romanticized imagery of the Greek Heterae, Renaissance courtesan, or Japanese Oiran (what most people mistakenly think of as Geisha) but those scenarios were about much much more than p4p.