Seduction is a specialised form of psychological and sexual persuasion that has been used by women throughout history to obtain power, money and fame. Frank takes a brief look at the history of seductive women...

Seduction isn’t making someone do what they don’t want to do. Seduction is enticing someone into doing what they secretly want to do already. - Waiter Rant

To seduce is to render weak. – Jean Baudrillard

A sweet disorder in the dress, Kindles in clothes a wantonness. – Robert Herrick

Your money cannot buy my love… but it will put you in an excellent bargaining position. - La Belle Otero

Needle, needle, dip and dart, thrusting up and down; Where’s the man could ease a heart Like a satin gown? - Dorothy Parker

A woman should be pink and cuddly for her man. – Jayne Mansfield

Women who pay their own rent don’t need to be nice. - Vogue

From Helen of Troy to Marilyn Monroe, Mata Hari to Mae West, and Cleopatra to Dita Von Teese; there have always been self-possessed sirens that have mastered the art of seduction. But contrary to popular belief, physical beauty was only one of the lures they used to their gain. By relying on their gifts of wit, brains, empathy and self-sufficiency, showing only glimpses of flesh, perfecting their makeup and adorning themselves with sumptuous fashions, they would tease a man’s imagination and stimulate his desire for something greater than sex: the chance to possess a fantasy figure.

According to author Robert Greene, the ability to seduce was born out of the need for feminine power.  “Thousands of years ago power was mostly gained through physical violence and maintained with brute strength. No one suffered under this scheme of things more than women,” he says in The Art of Seduction (Profile). The only weapon women had at their disposal was man’s insatiable desire for sex.

These women made seduction the ultimate form of power and persuasion, he says. “They learned to work on the mind first, stimulating fantasies, keeping a man wanting more, creating patterns of hope and despair,” he says.

“Once they had their victims' interest, they would lure the men away from the masculine world of war and politics and get them to spend time in a world of luxury, spectacle and pleasure,” he says. “The men would grow hooked on these sensual pleasures and fall in love. But just when the men wanted more, they found their pleasures withdrawn. They would be forced into pursuit, trying anything to win back the favours they once had tasted and becoming the slave of a woman.”

 “The key to the seductress's sexual success is her skill at creating what philosopher Jane Billinghurst calls an 'expectation of delight', and the man will willingly part with money and power,” agrees Caroline Cox, Professor of Cultural History at the University of the Arts in London.  “As the notorious courtesan of the 1890's, La Belle Otero was reputed to have said; ‘A man becomes yours, not the moment you spread your legs but the moment you twist his wrist’."

In every era there have been women skilled at this game of love – one of the first was a Roman courtesan of the 16th century whose lair was not one of a mere mistress. “This woman was accomplished, well versed in the arts, politics and science as much as the game of love, and objects displayed hinted at the owner’s education and accomplishments,” says Cox.

In the 18th century it was the boudoir of the kept woman where a seductress showed why she was worth the money invested by her protector. Her conversation was sparkling and her manner alluring, witty and cultured. This particular method of seduction was brought to high repute by the Geisha - professional hostesses who entertained guests through performance of their skills in ancient dance, singing, playing instruments, flower arranging, wearing kimono, conducting tea ceremonies, calligraphy, conversation, alcohol serving manners and more. A successful geisha had to demonstrate beauty, grace, artistic talent, charm, impeccable etiquette and refinement. While it was appropriate for geisha to have a patron (Danna), with whom she was involved emotionally, economically and sexually, they were considered foremost as skilled professional entertainers, not prostitutes or mistresses. Sex was not expected in exchange for the Danna’s financial support.

Today we have reached the ultimate point in the evolution of seduction, says Greene. “Now more than ever, all areas of social life require the ability to persuade people in a way that does not offend or impose itself,” he says. “We are saturated in the seductive - but the essence is constant: use pleasure as bait, playing on people’s emotions, stirring desire and confusion to induce psychological surrender.”

The tools of seduction may not have changed much over the decades or even centuries, agrees Cox, but a woman no longer reliant on men for social advancement - twenty first century femme fatales luxuriate in lingerie, play with the rules of fashion and retain control over their sexual lives. But they could learn much from their predecessors about the different tools for seduction.

Biblical babe

Salome was the daughter of the Jewish princess Herodias and stepdaughter of Herodias’s uncle, Herod Antipas, ruler of Galilee in Palestine. Her infamy comes from causing the execution of St. John the Baptist through her seduction of Herod through dance. The saint widely condemned the incestuous marriage of Herodias and Herod Antipas, as Herodias divorced from Antipas's half brother Philip. Incensed by the charge, Herod had John imprisoned, but feared backlash too much to condemn him to death. Herodias was not placated by John's incarceration and manipulated her daughter Salome to ‘seduce’ her stepfather, making him willing to grant her any request. At her mother's behest, Salome danced for Herod and his lords, high captains and chief estates of Galilee at his birthday dinner. Entranced by Salome’s seductive movements, ‘the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee. And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom,’ (Mark 6:21-29).  Unaware of the power of the spell she had cast with her dance, Salome asked her mother what request she should make of her stepfather, to which the mischievious Herodias replied ‘the head of John the Baptist.’ Herod unwillingly complied. Since appearing in the bible, Salome has appeared many times as a master seducer in literature and art. Oscar Wilde wrote a one-act play about her to shock audiences with its spectacle of perverse passions and Strauss created a one-act opera about her in 1905. Eva Green plays a character called Salome in Casino Royale.  In most depictions Salome is portrayed as a seductress and a murderer of a saint, thereby becoming a symbol of the erotic and dangerous woman, the femme fatale.

Walk like an Egyptian

Cleopatra is the best known of all the ancient Egyptian queens, remembered for her intelligence, political nous, knowledge of literature, mathematics, astronomy, medicine and great talent for languages – of which she could speak several. She ascended the throne at 18 years old to co-rule with her younger brother Ptolemy – to whom she was married according to Egyptian law. As Ptolemy was only 12, Cleopatra ruled pretty much as she pleased. But as her brother grew older many people rallied around his bid for power, and eventually Cleopatra was exiled to Syria. Then Ptolemy made an ill fated move in an attempt to curry favour with Julius Caesar, and when his plans backfired the Roman Leader seized the Egyptian capital and imposed himself as arbiter between Ptolemy and Cleopatra. Eager to take advantage of Caesar’s anger with Ptolemy, Cleopatra had herself returned to the palace smuggled in a Persian carpet. Upon seeing her Caesar abandoned his plans to occupy Egypt and restored Cleopatra to her throne. Despite a 30-year age difference, Cleopatra and Caesar became lovers and following the birth of their child she joined Caesar in Rome. After his assassination she fled to Egypt, aware that she was once again vulnerable to being overthrown. When summoned by one of three possible successors of Caesar, Mark Antony, to question her loyalty - Cleopatra once again displayed her political savvy and intelligence and made plans to seduce her would be inquisitor. In 41 BC she arrived on a magnificent river barge dressed as Venus, the Roman goddess of love. Successful in her efforts, Antony returned with her to Alexandria, where they lived in debauchery and eventually had three children together. Throughout history Cleopatra has been remembered as a seductress who fought to be an intelligent, active figure of political power.

The ultimate Femme Fatale

In the early 1900’s Dutch woman Margaretha Zelle took the stage name of Mata Hari and became an overnight success as an exotic dancer and mistress of seduction.  Promiscuous, flirtatious and happy to openly flaunt her body, Mata Hari captivated audiences and the public alike. Posing as a princess of Indian birth, the flamboyant Mata Hari claimed to have been taught a sacred dance.  She was widely acclaimed for her carefree, provocative stage act; her free willed attitude, sexually explicit performances and for being a successful courtesan in the upper classes, having relationships with many high-ranking military officers, politicians and others in influential positions. Not known for being remarkably beautiful, Mata Hari was nevertheless a highly desired woman whose spirit overflowed with eroticism.  But as World War I approached she began to be seen as a wanton, promiscuous woman and dangerous seductress. When the war began, Margaretha began to travel across borders regularly and her movements began to attract attention. In January 1917, French intelligence agents’ intercepted messages sent to the Germans and identified Mata Hari as their source.  By February Mata Hari had been arrested and put on trial for being a spy. She was found guilty and was executed by firing squad in October that same year, aged 41. Mata Hari’s status as an exotic dancer working as a spy, using her powers of seduction to extract military secrets from her many lovers, has made her an enduring archetype of the femme fatale.