Neaira (hetaera)

Neaira (hetaera)

Neaira, or Neaera, (pronounced "neh-EYE-ruh") (Νέαιρα) was a hetaera who lived in the 4th century BC in ancient Greece; there is no reliable data about the exact dates of her birth and death. She was brought to trial in the mid-fourth century, and the prosecution speech from that trial (Demosthenes 59 Against Neaira) survives. Although the claims submitted against Neaira are likely to be heavily biased and cannot be independently confirmed, the speech provides more details than about any other prostitute of antiquity, and consequently a great deal of information about sex trade in the ancient Greek city-states (poleis).