THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF LOVE

AGAPE is the love of humanity and of selfless giving, sometimes rooted in spirituality.

EROS is a  romantic love that includes some physical pleasure.

LUDUS is a flirty and playful love which may remain that way or move towards EROS.

MANIA is a Obsession or Possessive love that may be rooted in survival instinct but can overwhelm you or the person you feel it for.

PHILIA is affection you feel for friends or family members - sans romantic inclinations.

PHILAUTIA is a healthy self love in which you respect your own needs.

PRAGMA is the love you develop over time such as in some arranged marriages.

STORGE is the love you feel for your parents or, sentimentally, with old friends or lovers.

Thank You Ancient Greeks!

CYBELE and OTHER GREEK IMAGES

ANCIENT GREEK HETAIRA : COURTESANS and MISTRESSES OF THE ANCIENT WORLD : SEPTEMBER 2011

This month, I celebrate the ancient HETAIRA - COURTESANS or MISTRESSES - of Ancient Greece, a male dominated society in which marriage was rarely for love. Extensive information with lots of references at this link to the University of Chicago.

"In classical literature, there are witty hetairai and ones of divine beauty, those who are generous with their wealth and others with hearts of gold. But, for all these portrayals, it must be remembered that virtually none were citizens of Athens; many were slaves who had been purchased and trained from childhood in such a life. Whatever power they had came from their ability to be recognized by the powerful men with whom they consorted, who would love them and made them their mistresses or concubines."

GREEK BEAUTIES