Hetairas have a prominent place in Athenian society. Most are foreign women, from the Aegean islands and the coasts of Ionia, Corinth and Naukrati.

They are respected and honored like few women in antiquity. Diogenes writes of them "the beautiful Hetairas are queens". They were beautiful, smart, very educated and some even rose to high positions. Artists, philosophers, politicians, poets. They have an important place in intellectual and social life and obviously influenced the government because they were often around politicians.

Another city where Hetairas ruled is Alexandria. Herod, a mimographer from Kos who lived in the 3rd century BC, describes Alexandria as "the house of Aphrodite".

The most beautiful of them all was Phryne, from Thespies. Praxiteles and Apellis had her as a model in their famous works. The Athenians loved her as a goddess. The first nude woman in the fine arts, Aphrodite of Cnidus by Praxiteles, had Phryne as a model. Very greedy for money, she was compared to Charybdis, who devoured ships and sailors, so Phryne devoured the lovers' property. She had too much money to rebuild Thebes which had been destroyed by Alexander. The orator Hyperides saved her in court when she was accused of "disrespect" and was to be punished with a death sentence.

Another famous Hetaira was Aspasia from Miletus. Clever, beautiful, educated, she became the consort of Pericles, who divorced his wife for her sake. Pericles went out only on state business and stayed with her most of the time. Plutarch writes, "He loved her so much that every time he left the house or returned, he kissed her." The couple was imitated by the Athenians and comedians of the time. She was accused of many things, even of being responsible for the beginning of the Peloponnesian War, on the occasion of the abduction of a girl by the Megarians. Growing up in Ionia, she behaved more freely and was also accused of disrespecting the gods. Weeping into the courtroom, Pericles succeeded in acquitting her.

A contemporary of Aspasia was Lais of Corinth. She was the most expensive of all.

Another famous Hetaira was Thais, the Athenian. She was beautiful and accompanied Alexander. It is said that at a great feast of drink and tumult, Thais cried out that she would take revenge like Athena by burning down Xerxes' palace. Alexander did her the favor and gave her the torch with which they set fire to Xerxes' palace. The incident is recounted by Plutarch and Diodorus of Sicily.

Aristotle, when his wife died, lived with one Hetaira of the Herpyllida, with whom he had a son. He loved her so much that he wrote: "I wish the executors of my will and my son to remember me and the affection of the Herpyllida for me".

These women had special spiritual gifts and often a courteous character. Combined with their rare beauty, education and erotic art, they seduced very strong men and won what they dreamed of: fame, wealth, power.