Hierodule

In ancient Greece and Anatolia a hierodule, from the Greek áîî¿îî¿î»î (áîî "temple" + îî¿î»î "female slave"), was a temple slave in the service of a specific deity, often with the connotation of religious prostitution. Her prostitution would technically be excused because of the service she provided to the deity. The priestesses of Inanna/Ishtar were known to be hierodules, or nadä«tu in the native Sumerian language.

Among some neopagans, a hierodule may be a priestess who has sexual intercourse in the role of whichever Goddess she serves in the divine union of hieros gamos.

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