WOMAN'S LONG STRUGGLE U 



ceum, and were permitted to attend the lectures of the 

 philosophers on the same footing as the men. Thus, to 

 mention only a few, Thais was a pupil of Alciphron, Nicar- 

 ete of Stilpo, and Lasthenia of Plato. 



And so keen were their intellects and so marked was 

 their progress in the most abstract studies, that many of 

 them were recognized as the most distinguished pupils of 

 their masters. This accounts, in part, for the popularity of 

 their salons, at which were gathered the most eminent 

 statesmen, poets, artists, philosophers and orators of the 

 day. The nearest approach in modern times to such tryst- 

 ing-places, where beauty, wit and talent found a congenial 

 atmosphere, were the celebrated salons of Ninon de Len- 

 clos, Mile, de I'Espinasse and Mme. du Deffand. At these 

 reunions were discussed, not only the news of the day, 

 but also, and especially, art, science, literature and politics, 

 and always to the advantage of both guests and hostesses. 



Possessing such freedom and enjoying such splendid op- 

 portunities for culture and intellectual advancement, it is 

 not surprising that the hetaeraa played so remarkable a role 

 in the social and civic life of Greece, and that they were 

 able to wield such influence over their associates, and that 

 they often attained even the highest royal honors. Nor 

 is it surprising to read in Plato's Symposium the splendid 

 tribute which Socrates renders to Diotima of Mantinea, 

 when, in discussing the true nature of divine and eternal 

 beauty, he speaks of her as his teacher. 



Many of the hetaeraa were not only the models but also 

 the inspirers of the most famous painters and sculptors of 

 antiquity. Thus, Lais was the companion and inspirer of 

 Apelles, the most noted painter of Greece, while Phryne, 

 said to have been the most beautiful woman who ever lived, 

 was the inspirer of the peerless Praxitiles, who, in repro- 

 ducing her form, succeeded in bequeathing to the world 

 what was undoubtedly the most lovely representation of 



