Neara

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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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