Elite Escorts – Philosophy
EE Heritage, Mission, Spirit, Passion and Open mind
EE Origin- the origin of escorts
Escorts and escort agencies are still seen as quite a novelty today and their services are regarded as an occurrence of our time. However the origins date back many years.
Temple prostitution was quite common 3000 years ago, for example in Babylon. Women used to commit sexual acts in exchange for gifts which were given as a sacrifice to the gods. This was governed by different temple cults and was done in order to appease the gods. Solon’s law (640ad) turned this into a trade in Athens with the state taking a share of the income.
Greece made a difference between the common prostitute (Porna) and the escort (Hetaera) who was seen as educated and was socially accepted. Hetaera is the term used to describe women who sold sex in ancient times.
In ancient times sexual intercourse between husband and wife was seen as only one of the many possibilities to gain sexual fulfillment and pleasure. Selling sexual pleasures and physical love was even legal as long as it wasn’t done by Athenians. But there were slaves, concubines, and Hetaera who were readily available, in exchange for money or other rewards.
Antique vases and literature depict scenes of the said lifestyle. Noble prostitutes existed under Solon’s reign. The most attractive and talented were paid homage to and statues were often constructed in their honor. The most popular one was Aspasia, who was Pericle’s lover. An escort was very different to a common prostitute. Very often they even had more and better education, finesse, agility and sophisticated style than even the man’s wife or daughters.
Ancient Greece didn’t frown upon the contact with escorts. Greek women were usually busy with the daily household duties and contrary to the escorts, often not adept in topics such as art, culture, literature and philosophy.
An escort was also back then only available to selected men of privilege.
„Mimes of the Courtesans“ by Lucian of Samosata replicates a conversation between two friends about a successful courtesan:
„Firstly she dresses attractively, looks pretty and tidy, is pleasant with all men, doesn’t giggle but seduces with a beautiful smile. Later she beguiles men with her intelligence, doesn’t make fun of others and never puts herself out there. When she receives remuneration for dinner, she doesn’t stuff herself with food, only eats small portions, always contained and barely noticeable, doesn’t speak too much but listens and only has eyes for her guest. This is what makes her so popular. When she takes her companion to bed, she won’t do anything rough or sleazy, her utmost care and attention is given to being seductive for the man and to get him to love her. All of those virtues should be rewarded. “
Athenaeus of Naucratis, Greek rhetorician, author and poet, once analyzed the special beauty and magnetism of an escort in comparison to a man’s wife. The Hetaera was much friendlier than the wife, who (protected by law) would openly show pride and contempt for the man, whereby the escort would open herself and her fascination to the man. The beguiling temptation of a courtesan against the homely comfort of the married woman – this was a dichotomy which was also part of the speech against Neaera by Demosthenes 1800 years ago. “Wives are there to bare children, to beget sons and daughters, who will themselves, become good wives when they are of an age. Lovers are there to bring joy and pleasures, concubines for our body and benefaction, but wives to conceive our legitimate offspring and be the trusted custodians of our households.”
Hetaera’s were prepared for their roles as young girls and were never Athenians. Classical literature frequently described them as of unrivaled beauty and golden hearted. They were often powerful women, which was usually because the powerful men they serviced had made them their lovers or concubines.
The joys that Greek courtesans brought to men were depicted in Greek literature innumerable times.
Also at later times, the life of courtesans was a topic many authors seemed to be fascinated by. Their value was even higher in societies where social interaction between husband and wife was viewed as unsuitable. Therefore the courtesan took the wife’s place. Some of them left a mark on history others were enormously influential politicians and artists. Courtesans have been written about in a variety of poetic recitals and written works and have also impacted on style and fashion in their era.
Many of the above mentioned came from middle class or upper class circles, some of them were taught at an early age, others chose this path as the only way to receive recognition and wealth in a male dominated world. There were stories about highly appraised courtesans also in Babel, ancient Egypt, as well as Rome, but none of them exceeded the esteem they received in Greece.
In ancient Islamic countries a courtesan took a similar role to the Greek courtesan. They would mainly provide entertainment and usually come from other countries. Men found contact through panderers and hired courtesans as a muse and for entertainment as well as sexual pleasures. Love poetry of the Islamic Middle East was always dedicated to courtesans.
Courtesans in China were always to be seen in the elegant life and had very well developed skills and education in the arts and culture as well as lifestyle. They took on the same role as the Greek Hetaeras and where present in Chinese teahouses.
In Japan courtesans were called Geishas who had an outstanding reputation.
The term Geisha, stems from the Tokyoite dialect and is a combination of the words gei – meaning art or arts - and sha – meaning person.
The origins of the Geisha profession are to be found amongst the taikomochi or h_kan (comparable to the solo entertainers in royal surroundings) in the 17th century. The height of the Geishas was around the 18th and 19th century, at this time their services were in demand and affordable. They were also seen as trendsetters in the world of fashion.
The Edo-period in historical Japan (1603 – 1868) was, unlike the mainly Christian Europe, very open concerning nudity, sexual acts and the depiction thereof.
The so called hanamachi were places of joy and pleasure. Theatres and teahouses were to be found right next to brothels, pubs and casinos. There was no such thing as a sharp separation between a Geisha – who really lived from her art – and a prostitute, who offered sexual services. Prostitutes offered artistic entertainment and for Geishas sex was definitely not off limits.
Most Japanese towns back then offered so called hanamachis. Geishas lived there in okiyas – large female families.
Today there are only few hanamachis left. The most famous is situated in the city of Ky_to which is where the Geisha profession originates from. Gion is the biggest and best known hanamachi. Geishas are not as wide spread as they used to be and their numbers have declined progressively. Their services are expensive and exclusive.
In order to be successful it is imperative for a Geisha to be charming, educated, beautiful, ingenious and graceful. She has to know and act by the rules of etiquette and contain composure at all times.
Geishas can usually be seen at celebrations or meetings, for example at teahouses or traditional Japanese restaurants. Bookings are arranged through a „kenban“ - which is a „Geisha-agency“. The “kenbans” organize appointments and schedules for appearances as well as further education.
The charges are calculated by working hours. Traditionally theses are determined by the burning time of certain incense sticks which are also called „Incense Stick Charges“ or „Gem Charges“.
Many Geishas were protected by a patron (danna), who usually mainly supported them, but asked for certain services in return. This sort of relationship didn’t have to be kept in secret, because it helped the Geisha’s as well as the “client’s” reputation. The relationships between Geishas and clients became a very popular topic in romantic novels back then.
India was also one of the countries which used their courtesans for art and education and in many wealthy families they were even hired to educate their daughters.
There was some time between the middle Ages and the Renaissance that courtesans where no longer reported about and witnessed. Wealthy men had their lovers and concubines – but the actual courtesan only reappeared around 1450 and the rediscovery of the classic age. The demand for courtesans rose again quite rapidly and especially Italy with cities such as Venice became the fore rider. Veronica Franco, for example, was a well known name back then.
Veronica Franco (* 1546 in Venice; † 1591 in Venice) was in Italian Renaissance poet and the most famous courtesan of her time.
Veronica was the daughter of a „cortigiana onesta“ - an intellectual courtesan - and was taught the art of courtesans by her Mother in early years. 1565 was the year that listed Veronica in „Il Catalogo Di tutte le principale“ and „Pi ù honorate cortigiane Di Venezia“, which published the names, addresses and charges of Venice’s most esteemed prostitutes. She had studied Philosophy and her friends where poets and artists. This was also the time when the portrait of Tintoretto was created. Victoria was included in the city’s most renowned literary circles, partook in discussions and edited poetic anthologies before the 1570s. In 1564, the surpassingly beautiful and well educated Victoria got married to a wealthy doctor. But her marriage wasn’t a happy one and she soon left her husband.
Her love poems „Terze rime“ were published in 1575. These were already quite original. The same year brought the black plague and she left the city with her children. She returned to Venice two years later. Her „Lettere familiari in diversi“ were published in 1580. She included two sonnets which were addressed to the French King Henry the third, who she had a short liaison with back in 1574.
Courtesans were, at a later date, also called “maîtresse” (mistress).
A mistress, was usually a known lover of a sovereign, a titled noble or aristocrat or an important public officer. Marriages were given priority in high society, since they were arranged due to political or materialistic aspects. Therefore men very often had concubines, which were normally almost legitimate affairs because it would have been impossible to keep these secret. The relationship they enjoyed with their concubines was usually more intimate and affectionate than the one with their wives. Some of the aristocratic mistress yielded quite a lot of political influence.
The term mistress was a synonym for “lover”. A mistress, was formerly a lover of a European aristocrat, without the almost “official“ status, which came with the afore mentioned title. Lovers, however, hardly ever joined in any public outings and had to remain as private as possible.
In the high middle ages, when courts were established in the main French and European cities of residence, life in court changed, the importance of women grew. This is when the role of the lover became the one of a mistress. These ladies usually were aristocratic maids or spinsters by choice.
Emperor Franz the first was responsible for the almost legal establishment of the so called mistress. The church considered this institution to be a bone of contention, because it was an open violation of marriage, but certain clerics, who socialized in aristocratic circles (and themselves often had a companion or two) tolerated this situation.
Truly, leniency was given to liaisons between aristocrats and mistress. Property owners and also high ranking aristocrats had to comply with the system of arranged marriages. The idea of forced marriage went against the central church’s viewpoint of being able to choose marriage. Therefore theologians made exceptions and showed leniency when it came to high profile men and sovereigns. The law of monogamy didn’t have to be adhered to as strictly and having a mistress, was allowed.
A mistress was almost common standard in court during the 16th, 17th and 18th century. They received a certain status which included unwritten privileges and obligations. One can assume that many of the female sovereigns tolerated a mistress, as long as they showed the necessary respect. After all, the wives were also forced to marry someone unknown and usually didn’t have a deep and affectionate relationship with their husband.
The height of this standard was reached in the 17th and 18th century. Louis the 16th even married his longstanding companion, Madame de Maintenon, after he was widowed. Madame de Pompadour, who had been the mistress of Louis the 15th for many years, remained the “maîtresse en titre”, even after the sexual relationship had ended. Both were very influential people in terms of French politics and themselves initiated support for artists and intellectuals.
A true escort today can be said to hold down a successful profession. They are well educated, sophisticated and confident in any situation. They still serve a similar role as they have done for 1000’s of years. Their role is to entertain and accompany, provide variety and allow men of a higher social rank to live their sexual fantasies and desires.
This shows a longstanding historical tradition of services and desires, as old, but just as current as humanity itself.
