Meet 5 of the Most Famous Prostitutes in History

If we stop to think, there are dozens of synonyms for the word "prostitute, " and if we stop to think a little better, none of them are positive. However, although activity has always been marginalized to some extent throughout history, many sex workers have relied on their talents to gain space in the world.

Many of these women even became illustrious, and among them came artists, empresses, revolutionaries, and even saints. So, how about knowing a little about the life of some of the most famous harlots ever?

1 - Madame de Pompadour

Called Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson, “Madame de Pompadour” - concubine who loved the arts and science - was an influential courtier of Versailles. His specialty was flogging his clients while they were bound, and King Louis XV became a big fan of his punishments. However, the dominatrix, despite having fallen into the monarch's favor, had to face stiff competition from the Duchess of Chateauroux, another king's favorite.

And Pompadour went out of his way to get rid of his opponent, appealing to black magic and even poison! The Duchess, with fear, eventually gave up the competition and went to live in a convent. But the courtesan was not that bad, and a proof of that were the words Voltaire wrote after her death - in 1764 - wondering how all of France did not weep, for if this was the century of lights, that partly it was thanks to her.

2 - Mata Hari

The real name of this famous prostitute was Margaretha Zelle, and she began her activities after separating from her abusive alcoholic husband. Without any qualifications or means, Mata Hari - who was originally from the Netherlands - began to prostitute herself until she had enough money to move to Paris. There Margaretha began her career as an exotic dancer, and it wasn't long before she became a sensation in the city and in other European countries.

Mata Hari used to appear almost naked, and her beauty, combined with the elaborate stories she told about her past, made men completely fascinated. Over time - that forgives no one! - The dancer was abandoning her career on stage to devote herself only to entertaining rich and powerful men.

Unfortunately, after being accused of espionage, Mata Hari was executed by a firing squad in 1917, although to this day it is not clear whether she really acted as a secret agent or not.

3 - Byzantium Theodore

Born in Crete in the 6th century, Theodora emigrated to Constantinople to escape misery, where she began working on a brothel as a child. Thanks to her talents and great beauty, the young woman was very expensive for her services and, at only 19 years old, already owned her own brothel. However, beauty converted to Christianity, abandoning her old profession to become a spinner in a studio near the palace.

There Theodora met the - then - Prince Justinian, who fell in love with her. The two married, and after the heir became Emperor, the young woman became Empress. However, she has not forgotten the past, enacting a series of laws in favor of women and harlots, allowing them to divorce and own property, and imposing the death penalty on those accused of sexual violence.

In addition, Theodora abolished sexual slavery and opened a convent in which former prostitutes could learn new trades so that they could survive without having to exercise the old profession.

4 - Victorine Meurent

Daughter of a modest couple of French artists, Victorine dreamed of becoming a painter and, at 16, began to work posing as a model. However, the need led to prostitution, and the girl eventually went to work in one of the most famous brothels in Paris. Victorine became lover and muse of Édouard Manet, who was bewitched by her coppery hair and immortalized her in several paintings.

Among the most famous are “Olympia”, which you can see above, and “The Grass Lunch”, both currently on display at the Musee d'Orsay in Paris. The artist's other works with Victorine as protagonist are on display at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Arts and Boston Museum of Fine Arts, but the muse was not limited to just posing nude for famous artists.

Victorine learned the technique from his protector and, after a few years, also began painting. One of his paintings, known as “A Bourgeois of Nuremberg”, even gained some notoriety.

5 - Mary of Egypt

Also known as the “Egyptian Holy Mary” - or even Egyptian - Mary lived between the 4th and 5th centuries and began working as a prostitute through the streets of Alexandria at age 12. According to reports, she was very fond of what she was doing. One fine day, however, after 17 years of dedication to this life, Mary knew that a great pilgrimage would take place in Jerusalem, and she, who was not a fool, saw a great opportunity to gain clients at that time.

Incidentally, to make the trip, the prostitute offered her sexual favors along the way. But after arriving in Jerusalem, something amazing happened. Mary was reportedly visited by the Virgin Mary, who told Egypt she would find peace on the other side of the Jordan River. The woman obeyed and, after crossing the river and wandering in the desert, abandoned her life as a harlot and spent decades praying in solitude.

It is said that a year before she died, a religious - later known as St. Zosimos of Palestine - found her alone in the desert, naked and sun-darkened. He covered her with his cloak, and Mary, in turn, told him her story, describing the visions she had and the years she spent as a prostitute. When Zosimos returned to the monastery where he lived, he recounted his meeting with his wife, who today is revered as the patron of penitents.

* Posted on 8/21/2014