View source for Lais

{{WoodhouseENELnames
|Text=[[Λαΐς]], -ΐδος, ἡ.
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{{Lewis
|lshtext=<b>Lāïs</b>: ĭdis and ĭdos, f., = [[Λαΐς]],<br /><b>I</b> the [[name]] of [[two]] courtesans of [[Corinth]] [[celebrated]] for [[their]] [[beauty]].<br /><b>I</b> [[Lais]], [[who]] flourished [[during]] the Peloponnesian [[war]]: dicitur et multis [[Lais]] amata viris, Ov. Am. 1, 5, 12; Cic. Fam. 9, 26, 2 (acc. Laida); Prop. 2, 6, 1 (gen. Laidos).—<br /><b>II</b> [[Lais]], a [[contemporary]] of [[Demosthenes]], Gell. 1, 8, 3 sqq.; Plin. 28, 7, 23, § 81.—Acc. plur.: Laidas et Glyceras, lascivae nomina famae, Aus. Epigr. 18, 1.
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{{Gaffiot
|gf=<b>Lāis</b>,¹⁵ ĭdis ou ĭdŏs, f. (Λαΐς), deux célèbres courtisanes de Corinthe : <b> a)</b> au temps de la guerre du Péloponnèse : Cic. Fam. 9, 26, 2 ; Ov. Am. 1, 5, 12 ; Prop. 2, 6, 1 ; <b> b)</b> contemporaine de Démosthène : Gell. 1, 8, 3 ; Plin. 28, 81.
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{{Georges
|georg=Lāis, idis u. [[idos]], Akk. [[idem]] u. ida, f. ([[Λαΐς]]), [[Name]] [[von]] [[zwei]] berühmten Hetären zu Korinth. Die ältere, zur [[Zeit]] [[des]] peloponn. Kriegs lebende, war eine [[Zeitgenossin]] [[des]] [[Aristippus]], Cic. ep. 9, 26, 2. Prop. 2, 6, 1. Lact. epit. 39, 7. – die jüngere, [[Zeitgenossin]] [[des]] [[Apelles]] und [[Demosthenes]] (Gell. 1, 8. § 3 sqq.), war [[angeblich]] Erfinderin [[einiger]] Arkana, Plin. 28, 81 sq. – Akk. Plur. griech. Lāidas, [[Auson]]. epigr. 17, 1. p. 200 Schenkl. – Vgl. Jacobs Verm. Schr. Bd. 4. S. 398 ff.
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{{wkpen
|wketx=[[Lais]] of Corinth (Ancient Greek: [[Λαΐς]] and [[Λαΐδα]]) (fl. 425 BC) was a famous hetaira or courtesan of ancient Greece, who was probably born in [[Corinth]]. She shared a name with the younger [[hetaira]] Lais of [[Hyccara]]; as ancient authors (in their usually indirect accounts) often confused them or did not indicate which one they referred to, the two women became inextricably linked. Lais lived during the Peloponnesian War and was said to be the most beautiful woman of her time. Among her clients were the philosopher Aristippus (two of his alleged writings were about Lais) and the Olympic champion [[Eubotas]] of [[Cyrene]].

Aelian relates a tradition that either she or the other Lais held the nickname "Axine" ("axehead"), for the sharpness of her cruelty.

Anne Robertson referenced Corinth for its one thousand temple prostitutes most notably Lais. The city's reputation “added a new word to the Greek language. [[κορινθιάζομαι|Korinthiazesthai]] (to live like a Corinthian) meant to live a life of wealthy, drunken debauchery.”
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