Phryne: A Life in Fragments - Paperback

by Melissa Funke (Author)

How did Mnesarete, a girl from Boeotia, turn into Phryne the famous beauty, and how did she end up as an enduring symbol of ancient Greek culture? This book pieces together the story of the notorious fourth-century Athenian sex worker, Phryne. It considers her early life and her development into a cultural figure, whose influence and legacy have lasted from her own lifetime to the present day. It also investigates her infamous nude courtroom appearance, her influence on one of the most well-known statues from antiquity and her connection to celebrated figures from Alexander the Great to the artist Apelles. Her appearances in modern culture, ranging from Belle Epoque cabaret shows to 1950s Italian film, are also analysed, offering an account of how the real life of a woman turned into the biography of a dream girl.

Author Biography

Melissa Funke is Assistant Professor of Classics at the University of Winnipeg, Canada, where she works on gender and sexuality in ancient Greek literature. She is also co-host of the Peopling the Past podcast, which presents cutting-edge research into the everyday lives of real people in antiquity.