In the work Trying Neaira by Debra Hamel she delivers the story of Neaira. Neaira was a prostitute in a Greek brothel around the 4th century BC. During her life she moved up in the ranks and became a courtesan for the powerful men in Greek society. She later gained the fancy of a wealthy Athenian man named Stephanos, and had an almost thirty year relationship with him. This however was not approved of by Athenian society and she is taken to court being accused of breaking Athens marriage laws at the time. Throughout this narrative Hamel challenges many of the constructs of Athenian society by showing different aspects of their laws and politics. The work can make one ask the question if Athens was really a free place, or if freedom was just
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Athenian women had little rights compared to their male counterparts. They were not allowed to vote, own land, or inherit anything. They were controlled by their fathers or kyrios, a guardian, still usually a male member of their family. These men maintained control of the women’s interests. However of the two types of sex-workers the hetaera got to be well educated, and could even attend the symposiums with the Greek men, something the high class women were not allowed to partake in. Yet sex-workers most always had a mistress or master, which is what made the decision in regards to Neaira as her own mistress shocking. Some years later when Neaira was around 50 years old she was brought to court again. She was charged with xenias, which is when someone impersonates an Athenian citizen after “illegally” marrying Stephanos and trying to pass her kids off as citizens as well. Hamel in this section of her book gets to point out some things about the Athenian court system. As a woman she would not have been allowed to speak on her own behalf. What is more illuminating is that way she weaves the story of the men in Neaira’s life using the judicial system for political and personal gain (Hamel, 155). This speaks a lot about the Greek political system, because when one thinks of Greek politics a fair and just system comes to mind. Yet this abuse of the court system for personal or political gain happened all too often and usually, like this case, consisted of outlandish accusations used to harm an opponent with the scandalous
Athenian women had little rights compared to their male counterparts. They were not allowed to vote, own land, or inherit anything. They were controlled by their fathers or kyrios, a guardian, still usually a male member of their family. These men maintained control of the women’s interests. However of the two types of sex-workers the hetaera got to be well educated, and could even attend the symposiums with the Greek men, something the high class women were not allowed to partake in. Yet sex-workers most always had a mistress or master, which is what made the decision in regards to Neaira as her own mistress shocking. Some years later when Neaira was around 50 years old she was brought to court again. She was charged with xenias, which is when someone impersonates an Athenian citizen after “illegally” marrying Stephanos and trying to pass her kids off as citizens as well. Hamel in this section of her book gets to point out some things about the Athenian court system. As a woman she would not have been allowed to speak on her own behalf. What is more illuminating is that way she weaves the story of the men in Neaira’s life using the judicial system for political and personal gain (Hamel, 155). This speaks a lot about the Greek political system, because when one thinks of Greek politics a fair and just system comes to mind. Yet this abuse of the court system for personal or political gain happened all too often and usually, like this case, consisted of outlandish accusations used to harm an opponent with the scandalous