Lais

English > Greek (Woodhouse)

Λαΐς, -ΐδος, ἡ.

Latin > English (Lewis & Short)

Lāïs: ĭdis and ĭdos, f., = Λαΐς,
I the name of two courtesans of Corinth celebrated for their beauty.
I 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).—
II 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.

Latin > French (Gaffiot 2016)

Lāis,¹⁵ ĭdis ou ĭdŏs, f. (Λαΐς), deux célèbres courtisanes de Corinthe : a) au temps de la guerre du Péloponnèse : Cic. Fam. 9, 26, 2 ; Ov. Am. 1, 5, 12 ; Prop. 2, 6, 1 ; b) contemporaine de Démosthène : Gell. 1, 8, 3 ; Plin. 28, 81.

Latin > German (Georges)

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.

Wikipedia EN

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. Korinthiazesthai (to live like a Corinthian) meant to live a life of wealthy, drunken debauchery.”