What was the secret life of sex workers like in Ancient Greece? Was the oldest profession in the world much different from today? Let's find out.
Porne is the Greek word for prostitute, which is derived from the Greek word for sale, pernemi. Both men and women worked as prostitutes in Ancient Greece's bustling sex trade.
Female prostitutes were able to work autonomously, and prostitution was seen as a legitimate career. Prostitutes wore a uniform, wore distinguishing clothing, and even paid taxes. A successful prostitute can become not only wealthy, but also powerful.
Like any other occupation, everyone in the business was obligated by law to pay taxes on their earnings, which could imply that the status of this profession was perhaps more advanced than it is today in many nations throughout the world. Prostitutes were frequently brought in as slaves or as foreign women with limited rights who were allowed to earn money by providing sex services.
Slave women who got into business were frequently able to earn enough money to buy their freedom.
