auletris
noun/ɔːˈliːtɹɪs/
Etymology From Ancient Greek αὐλητρίς (aulētrís).
1
Historical A courtesan or prostitute in Ancient Greece who played the flute to provide entertainment.
- To equate auletrides with prostitutes tout court is an overgeneralisation, which in turn impacts on the reading of the imagery.2002, Sian Lewis, The Athenian Woman, page 97:
- The auletris, or flute-player, provided musical accompaniment at the Greek symposium, a drinking party enjoyed by aristocratic males.2006, Melissa Hope Ditmore (Ed.), Encyclopaedia of Prostitution and Sex Work, volume 1, page 51:
1 more example
- 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".2011, Laura K. McClure, Courtesans at Table, page 21: