CLS 239 ROMAN WOMEN: PUELLA, MATRONA, MERETRIX, AMICA

MERETRIX Culturally a disreputable woman -- a slave, foreigner, or freedwoman -- who provides access to her body in exchange for money Positive Images: golden-hearted courtesan, lover, mistress Negative Images: lupa, anus, lena, striga Associate Vocabulary: domina, amica, puella, scortum, libertina, ancillula, meretricula, appetitus Transitional Stages: Death, Marriage, Brothel Owner, Witch, Hag

Latin Texts

Testimonials:
Graffiti, epitaphs, inscriptions, e.g., Allia Potestas

Legend:
Larentia: Livy, Ab Urbe Condita 1.4

Exemplum:
Hispala Faecenia: Livy, Ab Urbe Condita 39.9-20

Comedic Stereotypes:
Philaenium: Plautus, Asinaria
Bacchis, Plautus, Bacchides
Gymnasium: Plautus, Cistellaria
Acropolis: Plautus, Epidicus
Erotium: Plautus, Menaechmi
Philocomasium, Acroteleutium: Plautus, Miles Gloriosus
Pasicompsa: Plautus, Mercator
Philematium and Scapha: Plautus, Mostellaria
Lemniselenis: Plautus, Persa
Phoenicium: Plautus, Pseudolus
Phronesium: Plautus, Truculentus
Thais: Terence, Eunuch
Bacchis: Terence, Hecyra

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Ann R. Raia
Associate Professor of Classics
The College of New Rochelle
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