escort diary® of Louella York: The Art of Pleasure.. The Hidden History of Sex Work.
If you’ve ever felt drawn to the idea of intimacy as something more than just physical—something deeper, more meaningful—you’re not alone. Long before sex work was pushed into the shadows, it was considered sacred. In many ancient cultures, intimacy wasn’t just a transaction; it was an art, a practice, even a divine offering.
Let’s rewind a few thousand years.
The Temple Priestesses of Desire
In the temples of ancient Sumer and Babylon, priestesses of the goddess Inanna (later known as Ishtar) didn’t just offer prayers—they offered their bodies in sacred rites of pleasure. Men would visit these temples not just for sex, but for renewal, healing, and connection with the divine feminine. This wasn’t some back-alley exchange; it was a revered spiritual practice. To lie with a priestess was to be blessed by the goddess herself.
Over in India, the devadasis were dancers, musicians, and sensual companions dedicated to temple life. These women weren’t just skilled lovers; they were artists, poets, and storytellers, embodying sensuality as a divine gift. They could seduce with a glance, captivate with a word, and leave a man transformed without ever needing to undress—though they certainly knew how to make that an art too.
And let’s not forget the hetaerae of ancient Greece. Unlike the average wife, who was expected to be demure and obedient, these women were highly educated, independent, and often more influential than politicians. They entertained the greatest minds of their time—not just in bed, but in conversation, philosophy, and poetry. They were the ultimate muses, mixing eroticism with intellect in a way that few women were allowed to.
From Reverence to Repression
So how did we go from goddess-worshipping temple priestesses to a world where sex work is hidden, shamed, and criminalized? The short answer: patriarchy. When men realized that powerful women—especially those in control of their own sexuality—posed a threat to social order, they did what they always do. They rewrote the rules.
Temples were burned, priestesses were cast out, and the sacred was replaced with shame. Sex work became something illicit, something men still sought out but no longer openly honored. Instead of reverence, there was repression. Instead of respect, there was stigma.
But here’s the thing—history remembers.
The Lost Art of Intimacy
Even in a world that tries to erase it, the essence of this sacred practice still lingers. The best companions, the most skilled courtesans, and the women who truly understand intimacy still embody these ancient traditions. They aren’t just offering pleasure; they’re offering connection, presence, and transformation—the very things that once made this work divine.
So the next time you think about sex work, remember: it’s not just the “oldest profession.” It’s the oldest art, the oldest healing practice, and one of the oldest forms of worship.
And if you’ve ever felt that spark, that moment where intimacy becomes something more—something almost spiritual—you’re not imagining it. You’re tapping into something ancient.
Something primal.
