This example could not well remain without influence on private life. The Greek indeed took no part in the Asiatic form of the Venus-worship; all the same illicit connection grew more and more universally prevalent, and as it could not be gratified in any other way, wives[123] and daughters of fellow-citizens were imperilled. To avert this danger _Solon_ (B. C. 594) according to the statements of _Philemon_ and _Nicander_[124] introduced actual _brothels_, οἴκημα, πορνεῖον, (house, brothel) and public women, πόρναι (prostitutes), who were accessible at a trifling charge. The houses of ill-fame were situated, as _Pollux_ informs us, at Athens in the neighbourhood of the Harbour[125], and in the Ceramicus according to _Hesychius_[126], in later times also in the city itself[127]. They were presided over by a Whoremaster (πορνοβοσκός, πορνοτρόφος—harlot-maintainer, harlot-keeper). As to the internal arrangements of brothels among the Greeks we have been unable so far to discover anything more precise, but in all probability the same conditions held good as among the Romans.
Besides the regular brothels, women were also kept at the taverns[128] (καπηλεία, καπηλεῖον, καπήλιον, πανδοκεῖα,—tavern, inn), which likewise were situated chiefly near the Port. The women were bought slaves, as the passages quoted above (p. 70. note 2.) show; and even such free Greek women[129] as at a later period undertook the calling, were then looked upon as slaves[130]. All women of this class, as well as the whore-masters, were professionally under the supervision of the Ἀγορανόμοι (Market Commissioners[131], who fixed how much each was allowed to receive for her services. This fee was called μίσθωμα, διάγραμμα or ἐμπολή,—fee, scale, purchase). It varied in amount;—8 Chalci— = 1 obol, a little less than twopence (τριαντοπόρνη,—an obol, two-penny, girl)[132], 2 obols— = about three-pence halfpenny (διωβολιμαῖα, χαλκιδῖτις,—a two obol, three-pence halfpenny, girl)[133], a drachma—a franc, say ten-pence[134], a Stater—= 4 drachmae, say three and three-pence (στατηριαία,—a stater, three and three-penny, girl)[135].
The Hetaera (Lady-Companion) seems in this respect to have enjoyed a greater liberty of choice, and a knowledge of their prices to have been regarded as something out of the common[136]. The well-known _Gnathaena_ at Athens asked 1000 Drachmae for a night from a foreign Satrap[137]; _Phryné_ a mina (= 100 drachmae, something over four pounds sterling). But the most notorious of all was _Lais_ at Corinth for the high price at which she sold the marks of her favour, from which arose the proverb: Non cuivis homini contingit adire Corinthum, (It is not every man that can go to Corinth)[138].