Very similar were the customs of the Lydians and their successors in empire, the early Persians. Their Venus was named Mithra, in honor of whom festivals were given at which human nature was horribly outraged. Fathers and daughters, sons and mothers, husbands and wives sat together at the table, while voluptuous dances and music inflamed their senses, and when the wine had done its work, a promiscuous combat of sensuality began which lasted all night. Details of such scenes must be left to other works, and veiled in a learned tongue.[25] CHAPTER III. GREECE. Mythology.--Solonian Legislation.--Dicteria.--Pisistratidæ.--Lycurgus and Sparta.--Laws on Prostitution.--Case of Phryne.--Classes of Prostitutes.--Pornikon Telos.--Dress.--Hair of Prostitutes.--The Dicteriades of Athens.--Abode and Manners.--Appearance of Dicteria.-- Laws regulating Dicteria.--Schools of Prostitution.--Loose Prostitutes.--Old Prostitutes.--Auletrides, or Flute-players.-- Origin.--How hired.--Performances.--Anecdote of Arcadians.--Price of Flute-players.--Festival of Venus Periboa.--Venus Callipyge.--Lesbian Love.--Lamia.--Hetairæ.--Social Standing.--Venus and her Temples.-- Charms of Hetairæ.--Thargelia.--Aspasia.--Hipparchia.--Bacchis.-- Guathena and Guathenion.--Lais.--Phryne.--Pythionice.--Glycera.-- Leontium.--Other Hetairæ.--Biographers of Prostitutes.--Philtres. The Greek mythology supposes obviously a relaxed state of public morals. What period in the history of the nation it may be assumed to reflect is, however, by no means certain. It is not reasonable to suppose that the Homeric poems were composed for immodest audiences, and it would perhaps be fairer to lay the blame of the mythological indecencies at the door of the age which polished and improved upon them, rather than of that which is entitled to the credit of their conception in the rough.