Aphrodite: Ancient Manners Paperback - 2010

Aphrodite: Ancient Manners is a novel written by French author Pierre Louys. The book is a fictionalized account of the life of a courtesan in ancient Greece named Chrysis. The story is set in the city of Alexandria and follows Chrysis as she navigates her way through the world of high society and prostitution. The novel is known for its erotic content and was initially published in 1896 under the pseudonym Pierre Frondaie. It was later reissued under Louys' name and became a controversial work due to its explicit depictions of sex and sexuality. Despite its scandalous reputation, Aphrodite: Ancient Manners is also considered a significant work of historical fiction. Louys was known for his meticulous research, and the book provides a detailed and vivid portrayal of ancient Greek culture, including its customs, beliefs, and social hierarchies. Overall, Aphrodite: Ancient Manners is a captivating and thought-provoking novel that offers a unique perspective on the ancient world. It is a must-read for anyone interested in history, literature, or the human experience.1928. From the Foreword: ...Thus, when Pierre Louys began his great study into ancient customs, to get his narrative of Aphrodite, he spent nearly three years along the Banks of the Nile and among the cities of Asia Minor, delving into such records as had escaped the fury of the vandals and the flames spread by the fanatics. Strange to say, however, the author has brought down in his narrative a vivid, convincing view into the past, with its licentiousness, which must be a shock to our modern moral standards. At times the picture may seem too vivid-but-always, should the reader remember, that for a longer time than the Julian Calendar records, was sex worship the order of the day-and excesses and indulgence the order of the night. Temples to Venus, Aphrodite and Astarte were built as national institutions and frequented by the most respectable and respected. Girls were sent here as a religious rite and preparation for marriage. The Courtesan was a respected element of society-licentious rites were even celebrated as a national institution.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.