The World of Courtesans c8.272

c8.272

In addition to carrying out their professions as mistresses, courtesans had to be expert singers and accomplished dancers and actresses. It is also stated that the quality of the artistic achievement of actors and actresses was assessed by a body of assessors (*prashnika*). The board of assessors consisted of an officiating priest (*yajnavit*), an actor, a prosodist, a grammarian, a ruler, an expert archer, a painter, a courtesan, a musician and a king's officer. They formed themselves into a board and judged performances.