Description
Book SynopsisHow did Mnesarete, a girl from Boeotia, turn into Phryne the famous beauty, and how did she end up as an enduring symbol of ancient Greek culture? This book pieces together the story of the notorious fourth-century Athenian sex worker, Phryne. It considers her early life and her development into a cultural figure, whose influence and legacy have lasted from her own lifetime to the present day. It also investigates her infamous nude courtroom appearance, her influence on one of the most well-known statues from antiquity and her connection to celebrated figures from Alexander the Great to the artist Apelles. Her appearances in modern culture, ranging from Belle Epoque cabaret shows to 1950s Italian film, are also analysed, offering an account of how the real life of a woman turned into the biography of a dream girl.
Nothing but fragmentsremain of Phryne's story, short anecdotes passed on and on again in literary compendia, that tell the story of a witty and beautiful w
Trade Review
Drawing on an impressive number of literary and historical sources, Melissa Funke has created an innovative and sophisticated treatment of Phryne’s reputation. This original approach to life writing provides a model for similar reconstructions of women from the ancient world. -- Isobel Hurst, Lecturer in English, Goldsmiths, University of London, UK
Table of Contents
List of Figures Acknowledgements Note on Translation Introduction Chapter One: Mnesarete to Phryne Chapter Two: Phryne the Artist’s Model Chapter Three: Phryne on Trial Chapter Four: Phryne’s Afterlife Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index
