Neara

Created by: Hannah Jeffery
Created on: 18-05-14 19:31

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Neara
- this is a law case against Neara's pimp lover Stephanus
- she had been brought up my Nicarete in Corinth
  - Nicarete was a slave who had been freed
  - she makes a living from running a brothel
  - she reared seven other girls and training them skilfully
  - when they got older and were in less desire she sold them
- Lysias asked Metaneira and Neara to come to a festival
  - out of respect for his wife, niece and mother he didn't allow them to stay in his house
  - there were lodged with Philostratus
    - he testifies
  - Nicarete came to hire her girls out to anyone who would pay
  - she was also asked to the great Panathenaic festival
    - simos testifies that he invited her
  - they had the freedom of movement
- she then started working in Corinth as a prostitute
  - Xenoclides the poet was a lover
    - he cannot testify because he had been debarred from the law into giving evidence
  - Happarchus the actor was also a lover
    - he testifies
- Timanoridas and Eucrates found her charges too expensive an offered Nicarete 30 minas for her
  - when they were about to get married they decided they no longer wanted her
  - they didn't want her to be sent back to the brothel so they offered her the price of her freedom
    - they would both pay 500 drachmas but she would need to pay 20 minas
      - she sent letter to her former lovers asking them to pay
      - Phyrnion paid the rest for Neara's freedom
        Philagrus witnessed this transaction
        
        they then went and lived in Athens
        he treated her in a very luxury way
        
        he took her out for dinner
        
        he made love to her In public
        
        after the victory at Delphi he celebrated at Colias
        when he was asleep many men, even some of the servants made love to her
        
        he felt Phrynion wasn't treating her with the love she deserved and so she ran away
        she took goods from his house, including the clothes and jewellery that he had provided for her
        
        along with two other servants
        shows loyalty
        
        she went to Megara
        she couldn't make a lot of money because they were mean and stingy with their money because it was war time
      - but she could not practise her profession here
- Neara met Stephanus who was visiting Megara
  - he promised her would look after her
  - he said he would make her his wife and would introduce his sons to his phratrymen as if they were his own
  - they arrived at Athens with her three children who were made Athenian Citizens
  - he wanted her because she was a handsome mistress at no cost and he could use her profession to make a living
  - she carried out her profession
    - she could charge more because she was a married woman
    - he could catch Neara having sex with a client and extract a large amount of money
- Phynion takes a lawsuit out against Stephanus for his concubine
  - Arbitraror says that she should spend an equal amount of time with both of them
- Stephanus gives Phano in marriage to Phrastor as an Athenian citizen
  - Phano was no well behaved and wouldn't be guided
  - they impression is given that she was unfaithful because she 'hankered after her mothers habits'
  - phrastor found out that she was the daughter of Neara
    - he divorced her and wouldn't repay her dowry
    - Stephanus filed a law suit that he should pay back the dowry or pay interest on it at 18% per annum
    - Phrastor filed a law suit for claiming that an alien woman was an Athenian citizen
      - if he was found out then he would no longer be a citizen and his property would be confiscated
- phrastor then became ill
  - nearea and Phano looked after him
  - he didn't want to die childless
    - he took in Neara's child and would pretend it was his legitimate Athenian son
      - he presented this child to his phratry
        they voted against him. this was because they knew of their divorce and his illness
        he then began a lawsuit
        the phratry challenged him and told him to swear an oath, but he couldn't
- Theogenes had been declared king Archon
  - he was a man of a good family but had little business experience
    - Stephanus offered him support with his examination, helped out with his expenses and offered him Phano as a wife
      - the wife of the king Archon is called Basilinna and is a chief priestess
        she would perform the secrete sacrifice for the safety of the state
        because she was an alien women she shouldn't be aloud to these public events let alone performing the ceremonies
        
        the basilinna should be pure and chaste
        this is scandalous because Phano is the daughter of a prostitute and has a son
- if the jury let Stephanus of then they're disrespecting their wives
  - they're saying that it is right for alien women to have equal rights
  - Alien women will marry citizens and claim their children as Athenian citizens
    - there will be less husbands for the poor female Athenians
    - reduce the number of pure Athenians

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Neara

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