Hmm, a coutesan is like, well, a mistress. To many men. But the really interesting thing is that because she was not part of acceptable society, and often was very wealthy, she could do whatever she damn well pleased, because she was not respectable. So, Im saying she because she was functioning out of normal society (but not ever really separate from it), she could be more influential than other women. Hmm, if you do Pericles, think Aspasia.