Western Data (Genesis Gemini AI) similar to what Western Scholars refer ‘Devdasi’ of Ancient India - Greek and Roman writers later described temples—most famously in Corinth—as housing women who offered sex to pilgrims in the name of the goddess.
Ancient Greek and Roman writers, most notably the geographer Strabo (c. 64 BCE – 24 CE), indeed described the Temple of Aphrodite at Acrocorinth as a major center for temple prostitution. According to Strabo, the sanctuary was so wealthy it owned over 1,000 temple slaves (hierodoulai) and courtesans (hetairai) dedicated by both men and women to the goddess.
Historical Accounts and Context -
The Proverb: This activity allegedly made Corinth a premier destination for wealthy travelers and sailors. Their excessive spending gave rise to the famous proverb: "Not for every man is the voyage to Corinth".
Votive Offerings: The poet Pindar (c. 518–438 BCE) recorded that a Corinthian athlete named Xenophon vowed to dedicate 100 girls to the temple if he won at the Olympic Games, a promise he fulfilled in 464 BCE.
Religious Role: While these women
were primarily known for providing sexual services to generate income for the
temple, they were also called upon to perform collective prayers for the city's
safety during times of crisis, such as the Persian invasion.
