Phryné

Phryné (in Greek old Φρύνη / Phrýnê , literally “clamping plate”, undoubtedly a nickname) is a Greek hétaïre famous of fourth century BC

Born Mnésareté (in Greek old Μνησαρετή / Mnêsaretế , commemorated the virtue) with Thespies, in Béotie, it goes to Athens where it becomes hétaïre. Quickly, it has as unquestionable lovers of the men most distinguished from the moment. Thus sculptor Praxitèle which, according to Athenaeum or Pline Old the, uses it like model for its Aphrodite de Cnide . Athenaeum adds to it the painter Apelle, who uses it as model for his Aphrodite Anadyomène.

She is famous for her high tariffs: according to the comic poet Machon, she claims a mine for one night. The scholiaste of the v. 149 of the Ploutos of Aristophane mentions the extravagant price of 10 000 Drachma S, is a talent. However, always according to Machon, its tariff varies according to its moods. It accumulates such richnesses that, according to the grammairien Callistrate it would have offered to rebuild the walls of Thèbes, shot down in 336 av. J. - C. by Alexandre Large the, provided the inscription there is engraved: “Destroyed by Alexandre, rebuilt by Phryné, the hétaïre”. The offer would have been refused. Organizing of a religious brotherhood dedicated to the worship of the god Thrace Isodaetes, she is shown by one of her former lovers to introduce a foreign divinity in Athens and by là-même to corrupt the young women. She is defended by the speaker Hypéride, one of her lovers. According to Athenaeum, this one, feeling the lost cause, does not hesitate to tear the tunic of Phryné, revealing with the Héliastes its chest and thus carrying the favor of the jury: Phryné is discharged and carried triumphs over it with the temple over Aphrodite.

According to Élien, the Greeks would have drawn up on a column, with Delphes, a gold statue of Phryné. Athenaeum specifies that it is the work of Praxitèle and that it carries the inscription “Phryné, girl of Épiclès de Thespies”.

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