The World of Courtesans c5.27

c5.27

Though the institution of *ganikas* was started by the *ganas*, the case of Salavati who is called the *ganika* of Rajagriha (which was under a monarchy) shows that the word had lost its specific meaning and implied a rich courtesan. It is possible that the community of rich merchants who were growing ever richer under the monarchies, wanted the best of everything in their towns, and, therefore, they borrowed the institution of *ganikas* from the oligarchies. Later, with the decay of the oligarchies, the word *ganika* lost its original significance.