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Sacred prostitution
Sexual rite performed in the context of religious worship / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Sacred prostitution, temple prostitution, cult prostitution,[1] and religious prostitution are purported rites consisting of paid intercourse performed in the context of religious worship, possibly as a form of fertility rite or divine marriage (hieros gamos). Scholars prefer the terms "sacred sex" or "sacred sexual rites" in cases where payment for services is not involved.
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The historicity of literal sacred prostitution, particularly in some places and periods, is a controversial topic within the academic world.[2] Historically mainstream historiography has considered it a probable reality, based on the abundance of ancient sources and chroniclers detailing its practices,[1][3] although it has proved harder to differentiate between true prostitution and sacred sex without remuneration.[4] Beginning in the late 20th century, a number of scholars have challenged the veracity of sacred prostitution as a concept, suggesting that the claims are based on mistranslations, misunderstandings or outright inventions of ancient authors.[5][3][6][7] Authors have also interpreted evidence as secular prostitution administered in the temple under the patronage of fertility deities, not as an act of religious worship by itself.[8][9]