Inara Serra

	Inara Serra
	species: Human
	Companion
	from; Firefly
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Inara Serra is a character in "Firefly" and its follow-ups.

Historical antecedents

A number of possible historical antecedents have been suggested for "Companions":

Shuyu in 19th century Shanghai^[1]
Hindi temple dancers^[2]
Geishas, in Japan^[3]
Courtesans in ancient Greece, 16th-18th century Europe
Hookers in the US 19th century West; the character and profession simultaneously reference and subvert that role.^[4]