English

Noun

auletris ‎(plural auletrides)

1. (historical) A courtesan or prostitute in Ancient Greece who played the flute to provide entertainment.
   • 2002, Sian Lewis, The Athenian Woman, p. 97:

     To equate auletrides with prostitutes tout court is an overgeneralisation, which in turn impacts on the reading of the imagery.

   • 2006, Melissa Hope Ditmore (Ed.), Encyclopaedia of Prostitution and Sex Work, vol. 1, p. 51:

     The auletris, or flute-player, provided musical accompaniment at the Greek symposium, a drinking party enjoyed by aristocratic males.

   • 2011, Laura K. McClure, Courtesans at Table, p. 21:

     One of Theophrastus' characters speaks of instructing a servant to bring an auletris from the brothel [...] "that all of us might be entertained by her playing and be made glad".

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