Could anybody tell what the difference is?

Uh, nomenclature?

Semantics?

Hair splitting?

So how many providers can dance on the head of a pin?

Or take advantage of a pin-head?

you're even connecting the two??
A courtesan is one who has been well versed, even schooled, in all the fine arts of being with a man. The focus is entirely on him, and what she can do to please him.
If she is good, she will be very attentive to detail, and pay close (closer than he realizes) attention to what he says and pick up many things in just his 'ramblings' - what he likes, dislikes, what's important, what's trivial, how he thinks, what he desires..There is no confustion of what a true courtesan is.

A provider princess? Since this is PMS time..it's probably best I 'don't go there'..! LOL!

P.S. Wow, in looking back at my post, it sounded crankier than I intended (told you, it's PMS time! LOL), but I guess I had originally thought the post was asking what was the difference between the two, implying someone thought they were the same??..




-- Modified on 10/30/2003 12:05:32 PM

not only has outstanding erotic skills, she's educated (self-educated is fine) witty, and an all around delight to be with.  She always puts satisfying your needs as her first priority.

A provider princess may or may not have some of the above qualities.  She thinks she does.  She always puts satifying her own ego first.

Just one guy's opinion.

DAMN!!!! As if the GFE isn't addictive as well as expensive enough. I hate to think what a courtesan could do to my will power & bank account.

 They are AATM also aren't they??

    Cm.

eom

Dion.
I'm certainly no expert on courtesans, but your description certainly fits my conception. The 16th century Veronica Franco is one of the most famous courtesans. For a more contemporary exzmple, I feel that Luscious Laurel of Neport Beach comes exceedingly close to being a true courtesan and  would give V. Franco a good run for her money.

Personally for me the whole Courtseans and Provider Princesses and the Godesses is all 10000000 % bullshit.
a provider/escort is what it is........
ok courtseans, princesses and oy...goddesses flame away lol.

sham

Julia Roberts aside, practically a courtesan is someone you can spend more than an hour with and not be bored.  I have been on group dates where the other guys were satisfied physically but were bored to tears otherwise.  I suppose those are the kind you take on golf or hunting trips and leave at the lodgings but not the kind you take to the city for an evening of togetherness.

It's more back to companionship than f**k buddies.  Though I must admit, great sex-poor communication can be a lot easier to deal with than great conversation-bad sex.  I can always talk to the other 5 people in my head LOL

Yep, loved that movie, Dangerous Beauty about Veronica Franco and that movie helped me decide.

I have heard again and again that Luscious Laurel is such a courtesan, and she is one of a few that I recommend for that area.
Here's a 'Standing Ovation' for Laurel - woohoo!

What a perfect discription NOSC

It's an interesting read and something I try to live by. Of course it is necessary to modernize certain things.

Kisses,

Tiffany

Link to being a courtesan according to the Kama Sutra:

http://www.sacred-texts.com/sex/kama/kama601.htm

the list of men we should NOT visit with:

"men who's breath smells of excrement"

Well, that would be easy..

There seems to be a fair number of people who generally agree that a courtesan has substantial attributes beyond both looks and sexual performance.  I completely agree, and I value these additional things more highly than either the looks or performance parts.

Which leads to stating something that I have often thought about the reviews on here:  they need a third rating that is intended to reflect this collection of courtesan-like qualities.  I don’t know exactly how I would word it.  With some reviewers it can be intuited from their descriptive prose, but I find that in too many cases the reviews are too short to get any such feel.

Clearly there are men for whom this aspect is not very important, but I imagine I am not the only one who looks for exactly this type of information.  My two ATFs are both 7s on looks and 7s on physical performance, but are 10s on courtesanship, and that’s precisely what keeps me coming back.

By the way I would define the terms the basic difference is the princess likely thinks she's a countess!  Courtesan=classy lady in all ways.  Princess=attitude gets in the way of any real class.

*puts history prof glasses on*

Actually, courtesans have served a number of functions from the ancient world down to today.  They have been spies, diplomats, mistresses to the great and mothers of kings.  Typically, a courtesan is expected to be well versed in a number of subjects, not least of which is the art of sexual technique.  Whereas a prostitute might pick up a few tricks from a john here or a john there, a courtesan is schooled in the arts of physical pleasure.  In addition, as has been noted here, a courtesan is schooled in a number of other subjects, most notably economics and politics.  They are expected to be witty, insightful, excellent conversationalists, and exceptional in bed.  Typically they speak one to two languages other than their native tongue, and I don't mean that in the way it's typically used around here.  Courtesans have been highly influential in the shaping of politics in several areas of world history.  Xuxi, who came to be a concubine in the Imperial Harem, eventually became the last ruler of the Qing dynasty in China.  

*removes glasses*

I read Luscious Laurel's reviews and I'm won over.  She sounds like a Courtesan to me.  I'm already trying to figure out how I can swing a business trip to LA.  But for us folk who are far away from sunny California, which other providers deserve that title?

Several people have given what I think are excellent descriptions of what a courtesan is and what a provider princess is.  Dionisis was particularly succinct, I think.

I think it's interesting that the ladies mentioned here so far have kept their fees somewhat reasonable—expensive, but not outrageous—despite their impeccable reputations.  I don't doubt for a minute that most could command more—some, much more.  And, these ladies have ALWAYS treated their gentlemen friends well, even when they were charging only 250 or 300 dollars.  They never had a reputation that I know of for being arrogant or for being rude to or disdainful of the men who patronize them.  

I think it comes from the heart for these women—it’s not all an act—and I think that makes a noticeable difference.

Actually, when looking at the history of courtesans,  it is normally associated with being 'the  ultimate luxury'.  That is, ladies who entangled with the high ups, of great beauty, fashion, schooled on a number of different levels including economics, politics and foreign language, and are distinctually, very very expensive.  Here is an article to look at.

Now the term "provider" I think is more commonly thought of as more than one gentlemen in a day and at shorter periods of time.  They are accessible also to those that are not extremely wealthy.  These women can display some variation characteristics of the courtesan as well, along with other.

As far as the term 'Provider princess', I have not heard such a word but am assuming means someone arrogant and rude/crass.  Any provider who is rude and crass I would imagine would not be in business with such a service, and also with boards such as TER around.


-- Modified on 10/31/2003 1:18:53 PM

I'd like to help you out but can't.  I'm an LA-area guy & only thankful for the couple I've been with personally who fit the courtesan discription.  I'm sure there are others I haven't spent time with who probably 'qualify' for that category.  We're blessed with some great gals here.

LOL Nosc and Sedona,

Yes, I know, like I say some things well, a lot of things need to be updated to todays  standards but the jest is there.
For instance I don't think it would be a good idea in today's enviroment to sit in the doorway or in a window waiting for men to pass by lol.
However, the genral assets that a courtesan should posses are there. Hmmm, on the betel juice? I think scotch would work or a nice glass of wine, maybe some tea for those who don't wish to drink alcohol? I always have plenty of fresh fruit and cheeses on hand for after too.
I thought the part where he talks about breath smelling of excrement was a hoot too lol.

Kisses,

Tiffany


-- Modified on 10/31/2003 3:43:53 PM

I believe that the original meaning of the term courtesan described a woman very much like you have stated in your first paragraph.  

What hasn't been said is that these women did not usually entertain men other than their benefactors, who almost always demanded exclusivity of their courtesan.  Of course many (most?)of these ladies moved on after a time to another benefactor for various reasons, but only to a similar arrangement with another man.  Mata Hari is the most recent famous woman I can think of at the moment to whom the original definition is completely applicable.  

I don't think the original meaning of the term courtesan really fits the typical provider of today, regardless of the lady's attributes.  Mistress probably comes closer, but even that doesn't necessarily mean she's receiving a great deal of financial compensation, & of course courtesans were supported completely by their benefactors.  But the English language is constantly evolving with new meanings attached to older words..."gay" as an obvious example.  

So I tend to think today of a courtesan being a lady with all the characteristics to have been a courtesan in the past, but without exclusivity.  And to me the "provider princess" (or other similar terms) is one who is self-centered to a fault, & whose attitude along those lines is not that hard to discern if you really pay attention.  The courtesan is a treasure, the princess is fool's gold.

Though I  can agree that the exclusivity of the Courtesan has lessened, it still remains much more than that of what is considered a provider (someone who sees more than one person a day, is accessible to a larger pool of gentlemen and sees them for a short amount of time).  Also, when someone finds a true Courtesan (in the complete sense of having all the qualities), it is for sure a treasure.  However, a Courtesan could not be a "Provider princess" as Ironman asks in his original post.  Someone who contains such traits of attitude, arrogance or 'bitchyness' could not be taken to business parties, public or extended dates, and would lose business very quickly.  If you don't believe me, ask yourself why that end of the market is not very saturated at all. Because the level of expectation is very high and the lady must deliver all of them.  

"Provider Princess" is just that, a provider. Even so, with sites like TER now around, hobbyists do not have to settle for these types or "fools gold" as you say. Even hour hobbyists who once only cared about a quick lay and nothing else, require a good and friendly attitude from their providers at the very lowest rates.

With the endless ladies at every price range, competitive market and the amount of information one can collect from this site, kudos to TER and I think hobbyists in general have been happier (and more demanding of quality) all the way around.

Happy Hobbying!

and that we use the term “provider” (isn’t that short for “Adult Services Provider” or something like that?) in place of the less tasteful “P” word.  Or don’t you think courtesans, as you describe them, are prostitutes?

It doesn’t matter what you are called as long as you are good at what you do.
PS - Lord knows I’ve been called lots of things.

In a sense, yes, the Courtesan/Provider/Streetwalker, when you get straight down to the bedroom antics, are doing the same thing.  However I was trying to respond to Ironman who seems to want to know the other differences that come with certain terms "Courtesan" and "Provider" and what was associated which each different level of providing.  But I do agree with you, they are all sub-sets of eachother, and are part of the oldest profession in history.  I mean that with the utmost respect!

While I don't doubt that many women choose this field because of the giving they have in their hearts, let's not forget that money is a large factor.  A provider will charge what she can, supply and demand and whatever the market can bare.  And what is wrong with that?  Afterall, you all can't make the big bucks forever,  time is limited. As long as they are making people happy I don't see anything wrong with the women who choose to/are able to charge very high prices. I'm assuming the consumers who continue to see them don't think their prices are "outrageous" or they would be forced to lower them.  Does this make her more "heartless" of a woman than someone who is only 3-400 an hour?   As long as their heart is in their service and the flow of paying customers are satisfied, that's all that counts!

I think.