A Hierarchy of Violence?: Sex Slaves, Parthenoi, and Rape in Menander's Epitrepontes

摘要: Scholarship on prostitution in ancient Greece, specifically classical Athens, commonly ignores the violence surrounding sexual labor. Whereas is central to discussions of modern context, focus hetaira as a courtesan has obscured reality Greek prostitutes, many whom were slaves and vulnerable abuse. (1) It not just obvious fact that could at times be violent--women, girls, household general risk for more broadly (as comic plots attest warfare demonstrates (2))--but such was constructed differently sex laborers than other social groups: prostitute body deemed an accessible accessibility normalizes against it creates double standard violence. (3) this construction I begin explore here by comparing two narratives assault recounted slave Habrotonon Menander's Epitrepontes. In narratives, place special emphasis narrative voice (a shift from third person first person), intended context private conversation between versus symposium), identity victim citizen girl slave). Also important narrator both accounts same person, Habrotonon. The plot Epitrepontes (The Arbitrators) typical New Comedy hinges rape young woman unknown inebriated assailant night festival (in case Tauropolia). (4) becomes pregnant rape. rapist, discovered wealthy citizen, does right thing acknowledging his child uniting with mother. All ends happily. Specific play when action begins, victim, Pamphile, unknowingly married her assailant. Charisius, husband, pregnancy, though role it, left marriage take up prostitute, Habrotonon, turn, discovers father Charisius. Hoping acquire freedom, she reveals who then happily reunites wife. As noted Hunter Gardner (2013) Sharon James (2014), unique presents details its effect victim. (5) recounts event follows (486-90): [TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII]. Although being there us, [Pamphile] wandered off. Then suddenly ran alone crying pulling out hair [in grief]. Oh gods--she had totally ruined light cloak, very beautiful fine; whole tattered rag. Pamphile described hysterical after encounter, hair. are further highlighted torn clothing. This vivid account leads conclude Menander most likely Athenian society recognized "rape victim" acknowledged "embodied event" (Gardner 2013, 134; 2014, 33). Ancient Athenians, they argue, concept akin our understanding addition absence descriptive accounts, Athens hindered lack specific terminology referring it. (6) There no single term 'sexual violence' Greek: bia (force), (7) hubris (outrage), moicheia (adultery) legal categories under which offences might fall. (8) Bia hubris, however, also refer forms types crimes. addition, victims never 'victims hubris,' only kurios (guardian) is. …