Anastasia (fl. 500s)

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Anastasia (fl. 500s)

Byzantine courtesan. Born on island of Cyprus, or more likely in Syria, c. 500; dau. of Acacius (guardian of the bears for the Greens at the Hippodrome in Constantinople) and an unnamed actress; sister of Empress Theodora and Comitona.

By late teens, was a favorite both on the stage, where she "undraped the beauty of which she was so proud," and off, where she followed in the footsteps of sister Comitona as a prostitute or courtesan (in the context of the time, actress was synonymous with prostitute).

See also Women in World History.