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The cortigiane oneste were usually well-educated and worldly ( sometimes even more so than the average upper-class woman ), and often held simultaneous careers as performers or artists.

They were typically chosen on the basis of their " breeding "— social and conversational skills, intelligence, common-sense, and companionship — as well as their physical attributes.

It was usually their wit and personality that set them apart from regular women.

They were prostitutes in the sense that sex was one of their obligations, but unlike the average prostitute, sex constituted only a facet of the courtesan's array of services.

For example, they were expected to be well-dressed and ready to engage in a variety of topics ranging from art to music to politics.