Athenian Prostitution
The Business of Sex
Edward E. Cohen
Reviews and Awards
"an authoritative study, highly recommended for its clear writing, depth of analysis and density of interest ... Cohen brilliantly demonstrates how prostitution infiltrated all aspects of Greek culture" - Barbara Graziosi, Times Literary Supplement
"Not only does Cohen for the first time effectively situate Athenian prostitution within its economic and legal context, he challenges many traditional assumptions about citizenship, gender and sexuality along the way. The result is a much more nuanced account of Athenian society and how marginal members, particularly women and slaves, helped to shape it." - Laura K. McClure, Journal of Hellenic Studies
"Cohen is a highly regarded scholar specializing in the subjects of economics, commerce and legal matters ... The seven crisp chapters, densely packed with facts and figures, reveal the varied and sometimes contradictory picture of sexual commerce." - Brian A. Sparkes, Classics for All
"Cohen's book is an excellent study with a focus on the practical aspects of prostitution and a careful weighing of the available evidence. Anyone with an interest in ancient sex work, and with enough of a background in ancient Greece, will find this book extremely useful." - Stephanie Lynn Budin, American Historical Review