History of Escort Agencies
The concept of providing the services of an escort in exchange for payment can be traced back to the beginnings of civilised society.
First Escort 'Agencies'
In fact, the escort agency business was already booming in ancient Greece, where attractive and intelligent female escorts known as Hetaera (Greek for friend or companion), were hired by affluent gentlemen, primarily for their congenial companionship and clever conversation. Above all, these early Greek female 'escorts' were coveted for their superior intelligence and ability to contribute to the tenor of any social occasion.
A similar pattern was seen in ancient Rome, although the role of the female 'escort', at the time, was more akin to that of sexual slave than companion. However, by the late 1400s, the courtesans who frequented the Papal court in Rome to entertain the incumbent celibate clerics were refined female escorts, highly prized for their social skills. During the sixteenth century, Italy and Venice, in particular, was renowned for its celebrated courtesans who would be used to entertain famous visiting dignitaries.
Evidence of the existence of what were essentially 'escort agencies' can also be found in Japan, during the early 1600s when engaging the services of a geisha (or woman of art) was (and to an extent, still is) an integral element of sophisticated Japanese society. Geishas were hired primarily for their ability to facilitate social intercourse in all its subtlest forms.
Early Modern Escort Agencies
In more recent times, a proliferation of modern style escort agencies was witnessed in the West, especially at the start of the 20th century. In the United States, for example, many of these early modern agencies were established by European businessmen who were themselves keen to use the services of high-class escorts who could strengthen their position during business negotiations and enhance their personal status at social events. Here again, intelligence was a crucial factor, with attractive, multilingual escorts proving particularly popular!
Coveted Qualities throughout the Ages
Interestingly, what most of the early prototype escort agencies around the globe had in common was the high value placed by customers on intelligence and cultural sophistication; these were the qualities most sought after in a female escort, although her beauty and capacity to provide sexual gratification were also very important.
In this respect, little has changed over the ages where the escort business is concerned. In early times, hiring a beautiful and intelligent escort involved an element of male one-upmanship, where customers wanted to emphasise their status and boost their ailing egos. So, what's new today? Not much, it would appear, apart from the fact that nowadays, both men and women and individuals of differing sexual orientation turn to escort agencies mainly in search of companionship and to put it bluntly, a bit of ego boosting into the bargain.
Significantly, today, as in ancient times, the sexual or intimate element, is often seen as secondary, or as merely a welcome adjunct for those clients who specifically request such 'full' services.
Ultimately, this is probably one of the main reasons why contemporary escort agencies, across the globe, have retained a typically up-market image of establishments that offer primarily the companionship of attractive, intelligent and socially adept escorts with, sex merely a negotiable and optional extra.
First Escort 'Agencies'
In fact, the escort agency business was already booming in ancient Greece, where attractive and intelligent female escorts known as Hetaera (Greek for friend or companion), were hired by affluent gentlemen, primarily for their congenial companionship and clever conversation. Above all, these early Greek female 'escorts' were coveted for their superior intelligence and ability to contribute to the tenor of any social occasion.
A similar pattern was seen in ancient Rome, although the role of the female 'escort', at the time, was more akin to that of sexual slave than companion. However, by the late 1400s, the courtesans who frequented the Papal court in Rome to entertain the incumbent celibate clerics were refined female escorts, highly prized for their social skills. During the sixteenth century, Italy and Venice, in particular, was renowned for its celebrated courtesans who would be used to entertain famous visiting dignitaries.
Evidence of the existence of what were essentially 'escort agencies' can also be found in Japan, during the early 1600s when engaging the services of a geisha (or woman of art) was (and to an extent, still is) an integral element of sophisticated Japanese society. Geishas were hired primarily for their ability to facilitate social intercourse in all its subtlest forms.
Early Modern Escort Agencies
In more recent times, a proliferation of modern style escort agencies was witnessed in the West, especially at the start of the 20th century. In the United States, for example, many of these early modern agencies were established by European businessmen who were themselves keen to use the services of high-class escorts who could strengthen their position during business negotiations and enhance their personal status at social events. Here again, intelligence was a crucial factor, with attractive, multilingual escorts proving particularly popular!
Coveted Qualities throughout the Ages
Interestingly, what most of the early prototype escort agencies around the globe had in common was the high value placed by customers on intelligence and cultural sophistication; these were the qualities most sought after in a female escort, although her beauty and capacity to provide sexual gratification were also very important.
In this respect, little has changed over the ages where the escort business is concerned. In early times, hiring a beautiful and intelligent escort involved an element of male one-upmanship, where customers wanted to emphasise their status and boost their ailing egos. So, what's new today? Not much, it would appear, apart from the fact that nowadays, both men and women and individuals of differing sexual orientation turn to escort agencies mainly in search of companionship and to put it bluntly, a bit of ego boosting into the bargain.
Significantly, today, as in ancient times, the sexual or intimate element, is often seen as secondary, or as merely a welcome adjunct for those clients who specifically request such 'full' services.
Ultimately, this is probably one of the main reasons why contemporary escort agencies, across the globe, have retained a typically up-market image of establishments that offer primarily the companionship of attractive, intelligent and socially adept escorts with, sex merely a negotiable and optional extra.
