The World of Courtesans c7.4

c7.4

The information about the royal courtesans that is given by Curtius agrees with the accounts in the *Arthashastra*. The *Arthashastra* mentions that the prostitute (*dasyah*) in the royal service performed the duty of bathroom attendants (*snapaka*), shampooers (*samvahaka*), bedroom attendants (*astaraka*), washer women and florists. While presenting water, scents, fragrant powders, clothes and garlands to the king, the royal servants, along with the courtesans, first touched these things reverently with their eyes, arms and breasts before offering them to him.