Hetarai -Part 2
Being an orphan in ancient Greece meant that fewer opportunities would become available, especially if the orphan was female. She could beg, get married, fall into prostitution or slavery. But because she was beautiful, she never had to consider any of those choices. Her aunt had taken her in when her parents had died and in doing so, decided her destiny.
Her aunt was one of those known to the masses as Hetarai. They were a group of women who were fully independent, living on their own and even having property in their own name. They were powerful and untouchable, calling those among the rich and the great their friends. Her aunt was one of them and soon she would be to, but first, she had to be educated.
Having been denied nothing since birth and then losing her adoring parents left her with an emptiness she could not fill. So she threw herself into the lessons her aunt set out for her each day. She studied everything from philosophy to art. In the mornings, she did her chores, learning how to keep her little place neat and tidy. In the afternoon, she studied with her aunt the great books of philosophers, played her musical instruments and even painted if she had the time, by evening her aunt would leave for her 'appointments' which meant she would have time to relax and walk in the gardens. Then, when Sundays came along, her aunt would take her to the markets to help her with the concept of money and how to manage it, for in those days, women had very little understanding of how to manage their finances. This wasn't to say they didn't know the worth of money, only that they were hopeless at managing it. To them, money was either enough or not. Besides, the lady of the house seldom had a clue on how much things cost because they had their slaves to do the marketing for them and the slaves were the ones who did the bargaining for them. But for her, it was essential that she learnt how much things cost and how to manage the funds she had so that she would never have to be dependent on others.
Her education with her aunt went on for two years in which time she had no other contact with other people except her aunt and the slaves in her aunt's household. But shortly after her twelve birthday, she had her first encounter.
Her aunt was one of those known to the masses as Hetarai. They were a group of women who were fully independent, living on their own and even having property in their own name. They were powerful and untouchable, calling those among the rich and the great their friends. Her aunt was one of them and soon she would be to, but first, she had to be educated.
Having been denied nothing since birth and then losing her adoring parents left her with an emptiness she could not fill. So she threw herself into the lessons her aunt set out for her each day. She studied everything from philosophy to art. In the mornings, she did her chores, learning how to keep her little place neat and tidy. In the afternoon, she studied with her aunt the great books of philosophers, played her musical instruments and even painted if she had the time, by evening her aunt would leave for her 'appointments' which meant she would have time to relax and walk in the gardens. Then, when Sundays came along, her aunt would take her to the markets to help her with the concept of money and how to manage it, for in those days, women had very little understanding of how to manage their finances. This wasn't to say they didn't know the worth of money, only that they were hopeless at managing it. To them, money was either enough or not. Besides, the lady of the house seldom had a clue on how much things cost because they had their slaves to do the marketing for them and the slaves were the ones who did the bargaining for them. But for her, it was essential that she learnt how much things cost and how to manage the funds she had so that she would never have to be dependent on others.
Her education with her aunt went on for two years in which time she had no other contact with other people except her aunt and the slaves in her aunt's household. But shortly after her twelve birthday, she had her first encounter.
posted by Princess A at 1/12/2006
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