[MR] Courtesans of Atlantia

[Stefan li Rous]

Cassandra said:
<<< For those with more interest on the topic, please do not be discouraged to contact me off list.  As her Highness has requested, I would like to take further discussion off list. >>>

I, for one, was very interested in this discussion of the Courtesans of Atlantia or of the period of history in Europe that we purport to study. I am finding that I had a number of misunderstandings about these Courtesans, even in the brief mentions of them earlier on this list.

I am sorry to see such a scholarly discussion be forced from this list. But if that is the wish of the members of this list, then yes, please let's take it from this list, but please include myself since I imagine there is a lot I could learn.

I would welcome yourself, or perhaps David Chessler? or other folks knowledgeable about these Courtesans of Europe to write one or more papers or articles on these women for the Florilegium. It is a topic not well covered and probably known more by myths than real knowledge.

Individuals may view these women with wonder, disgust or fear, depending upon their own beliefs and upbringing, but unlike the Victorians, I believe we should study all aspects of the culture and times we study and not force ourselves to look through rose-colored glasses. That we should look at the blood and gore of medieval combat and life as well as its romanticism and chivalry. 

While we make the assumption that all gentles we meet at our events our of noble birth unless otherwise indicated, that doesn't mean all are or wish to portray themselves as of noble birth at all times. Do some not wish to portray themselves as men-at-arms? or lowly merchants? or serving ladies or even beggars at times? Well, if so, shouldn't be strive to be those people we portray? Or are we trying to simply create a fairy-tale story instead of what was?  The SCA has occasionally suffered from "political correctness", I hope this isn't another such episode.

THLord Stefan li Rous

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THLord Stefan li Rous    Barony of Bryn Gwlad    Kingdom of Ansteorra
  Mark S. Harris           Austin, Texas          StefanliRous at austin.rr.com
**** See Stefan's Florilegium files at:  http://www.florilegium.org ****