Lupanarium - brothel in Ancient Rome, housed in a separate building. The name comes from Latin word“She-wolf” (lat. lupa) is what prostitutes were called in Rome.

The extent of the prevalence of prostitution in Roman cities can be judged by the example of Pompeii, where 25-34 premises used for prostitution were discovered (separate rooms are usually above wine shops), and one two-story lupanarium with 10 rooms.

In Pompeii they tried not to advertise such places. A low and inconspicuous door led from the street to the lupanarium. However, finding lupanarium was not difficult even for visiting traders and sailors. Visitors were guided by arrows in the form of a phallic symbol, carved directly into the pavement stones. They made their way into the lupanarium after dark, hiding behind their hoods pulled low. A special pointed headdress called the cuculus nocturnus (night cuckoo) hid the face of the brothel's noble client. Juvenal mentions this item in his story about the adventures of Messalina.

The inhabitants of the lupanarii received guests in small rooms painted with frescoes of erotic content. Otherwise, the furnishings of these tiny rooms were extremely simple; in essence, it was one narrow stone bed about 170 cm long, which was covered with a mattress on top. At the request of the authorities, all women prostitute They wore red belts raised to the chest and tied at the back, called mamillare.

With whitened faces, cheeks painted with cinnabar and eyes lined with soot, Roman prostitutes practiced their ancient craft. They were everywhere - at the walls of the Colosseum, in theaters and temples. Visiting a prostitute was not considered something reprehensible among the Romans. Cheap priestesses of love sold quick sex in the quarters of the old city. Higher-ranking prostitutes, supported by bath attendants, operated in Roman baths.

The ranks of representatives of the most ancient profession were replenished by deceived village girls, with whom an agreement was signed, which they had to work out in taverns and brothels. The legal source was the slave trade. Pimps (they already existed in Ancient Rome!) bought women like cattle, having first examined their bodies, and then sent them to work.

The sexual use of slaves was legal in Rome. The rape of a slave by a pimp was not punishable either. Brothel owners made extensive use of child prostitution. The trade in slaves who became prostitutes brought in income equal to the income from the export and import of wheat and wine. New young, slender women were constantly needed (the “Rubensian figures” were not successful). The greatest demand was for very young, tender girls, which corresponded to the pedophilic inclinations of the Romans. After 30 years, the prostitute was not listed in Rome. Her lot was drunkenness, illness and early death. It was a rare woman who managed to save some money for her old age.

Ancient images of “love chambers” in brothels have been preserved. It was, as a rule, a cramped room with a bed made of stone, covered with rough cloth. Such was the haven of quick sexual intercourse, where even shoes were not removed. Visiting a brothel was also available to the poorest sections of the Roman population. Its cost ranged from 2 to 16 aces, and approximately corresponded to the price of a mug of wine or one piece of bread. At the same time, the services of famous courtesans could cost the client thousands of aces. The cheapest was oral sex (Monica Lewinsky from Washington, of course, did not know this). Women who practiced it were considered “unclean” in Rome; they did not drink from the same glass with them, and they were not kissed. But women with shaved genitals were especially highly valued. Slaves in Roman baths specialized in removing pubic hair.

Little was known about venereal diseases in Ancient Rome and they were considered the result of sexual excesses and perversions. Since the 40th year new era prostitutes had to pay taxes. Their calculation was based on unus concubitus - that is, one act per day. Earnings in excess of this norm were not taxed. All the Roman Caesars held tightly to the tax on living goods, which brought a fair amount of income to the treasury. Even in Christian Rome, the beneficial tax remained for a long time.

Only men enjoyed freedom in matters of sexual life in Rome. Patriarchal morals reigned for women, although some Roman matrons allowed themselves love affairs with a young slave. Roman philosophers and poets often addressed the topic free love. Horace wrote: “If your penis is swollen and you have a maid or a slave at hand, are you ready to give them up? I’m not, I love erotica that easily gives pleasure.”

To summarize, we can say that in ancient Rome women did not have civil rights and were formally excluded from participation in public affairs. Their position was not as low as in Ancient Greece. Roman women enjoyed relative freedom - they could appear in society, go on visits, and attend receptions. The family life of Roman women was also different from the life of Greek women. The participation of Roman women in public life was common.

Women from upper strata understood political issues and were able to defend their rights. They influenced the political life of the republic, and later the empire: deprived of the right to vote, Roman women campaigned for one candidate or another, contributed to the adoption of certain decisions and laws at meetings. The role of women in religious cult was significant. The Vestals were highly respected and honored in Roman society. Roman women had more opportunities to get an education than Greek women. During the era of the empire, many women were interested in literature, art, and studied history and philosophy.

In ancient times, an archaic society developed an idea of ​​the ideal type of woman as the embodiment of Roman virtues - steadfastness of character, hard work, respect for honor. Chastity, modesty, purity of soul, and marital fidelity were respected. Among married Roman women, noble matrons, wives and mothers in patrician families enjoyed special honor.

Chapter 2. Prostitution in ancient Roman society

2.1. The Origins of Prostitution in Ancient Rome

In ancient Rome, as in other places where slavery flourished, slaves could be used at will because they were private property. Prostitution also flourished in Ancient Rome.

Prostitutes were not only women, but also men who were engaged in homosexual and heterosexual prostitution, working in brothels, taverns and other establishments.

Most prostitutes came from slaves and slaves who worked this way under the compulsion of the owner, or as freedmen who earned their living.

Courtesans were called bonae meretrices, which indicated their higher perfection in the craft, they were also dancers, sang, knew how to play the flute, cithara, and were respected persons. They had privileged (permanent) lovers, and also exerted their influence on fashion, art, and literature.

Inside the Roman brothel "lupanar" ( lupanar) was divided into cramped closets. Tariffs in street brothels and on the streets were very low. Suetonius writes that since the reign of Caligula, the state has taken a tax from prostitutes. 1

To pay for the services of prostitutes, special tokens - spintrii - were often used.

Lupanarium is a brothel in Ancient Rome, located in a separate building. The name comes from the Latin word for she-wolf (lat. lupa) - this is what prostitutes were called in Rome. 1

The extent of the prevalence of prostitution in Roman cities can be judged by the example of Pompeii, where 25-34 premises used for prostitution were discovered (separate rooms are usually above wine shops), and one two-story lupanarium with 10 rooms.

However, in Pompeii they tried not to advertise such places of “consolation”.

A low and inconspicuous door led from the street to the lupanarium. Visitors were guided by arrows in the form of a phallic symbol, carved directly into the pavement stones. They made their way into the lupanarium after dark, hiding behind their hoods pulled low. A special pointed headdress hid the face of a noble client of the brothel.

The inhabitants of the lupanarii received guests in small rooms painted with frescoes of erotic content. Otherwise, the furnishings of these tiny rooms were extremely simple; in essence, it was one narrow stone bed about 170 cm long, which was covered with a mattress on top. At the request of the authorities, everything women lung They wore red belts raised to the chest and tied at the back.

We indicated above that special tokens - spintrii - were used to pay for services provided. 2

Spintrias were known in the same way as brothel brands. Most spintrii were minted in bronze. They are characterized by an erotic plot. As a rule, this is an image of people in various poses during sexual intercourse, a naked man, a winged phallus, copulating animals. The most common plot is sexual intercourse between a man and a woman. On the reverse side of the token there are usually various Roman numerals (I to XX), the meaning of which is not precisely established. 1

However, the meaning of this term is ambiguous.

Despite the generally accepted version of the use of these tokens in brothels, hypotheses are also put forward that spintrii were used as gambling tokens, and may also have been issued during the time of Tiberius to discredit the imperial power. In Suetonius, the word spintria is also called bisexuals, whose infatuation was attributed to Tiberius in Capri. Suetonius also reports that Caligula expelled them from Rome and Italy; In addition, Aulus Vitellius, who also spent his youth in Capri, received the shameful nickname Spintrius.

Speaking about prostitution in Ancient Rome, it is impossible not to refer to the work of Johann Bloch “The History of Prostitution” 2. From this book we can get more complete information about the situation of prostitutes, types of prostitution in ancient Roman society, how this topic is covered in Roman law and how this phenomenon was treated in society.

A prostitute, according to Roman law 3, is a woman who unlimitedly satisfies the general public demand for sexual pleasure. And all women who have sexual intercourse with many men, publicly or secretly, in a brothel or elsewhere, for reward or without it, with voluptuousness or coldly, indiscriminately - they are all prostitutes.

The category of prostitutes also includes, of course, those women who, through seduction or violence, encourage others to sell themselves: procurers, mistresses of brothels and pleasure bars.

If we put all these facts together, we get the following comprehensive definition: a woman who, for the purpose of obtaining money, or without such a purpose, publicly or secretly sells herself or other women to many men indiscriminately, is a prostitute.

This is the classic definition of prostitution under Roman law, 1 which was also used by later jurists.

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Abstract on the topic:

Lupanarium

Lupanarium building in Pompeii

Lupanarium(Also lupanar, lat. lupānar or lupānārium) is a brothel in Ancient Rome, located in a separate building. The name comes from the Latin word for she-wolf (lat. lupa) - this is what prostitutes were called in Rome.

The extent of the prevalence of prostitution in Roman cities can be judged by the example of Pompeii, where 25-34 premises used for prostitution were discovered (separate rooms are usually above wine shops), and one two-story lupanarium with 10 rooms.

In Pompeii they tried not to advertise such places. A low and inconspicuous door led from the street to the lupanarium. However, finding lupanarium was not difficult even for visiting traders and sailors. Visitors were guided by arrows in the form of a phallic symbol, carved directly into the pavement stones. They made their way into the lupanarium after dark, hiding behind their hoods pulled low. A special pointed headdress, called the cuculus nocturnus, hid the face of the brothel's noble client. Juvenal mentions this item in his story about the adventures of Messalina.

The inhabitants of the lupanarii received guests in small rooms painted with frescoes of erotic content. Otherwise, the furnishings of these tiny rooms were extremely simple; in essence, it was one narrow stone bed about 170 cm long, which was covered with a mattress on top. At the request of the authorities, all women of easy virtue wore red belts, called mamillare, raised to the chest and tied at the back.

Frescoes on the walls of the lupanarium in Pompeii (from the Secret Museum)

Notes

1. Juvenal, "Satires" (Satvrae) VI, 118; VI, 330

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This abstract is based on an article from Russian Wikipedia. Synchronization completed 07/12/11 21:07:44
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Lupanar in Pompeii

Most prostitutes came from slaves and slaves who worked this way under the compulsion of the owner, or as freedmen who earned their living (lat. mulier, quae palam corpore quaestum facit, official name).

Inside a Roman brothel "lupanarium" ( lupanar) was divided into cramped closets. For example, the lupanarium, discovered during excavations in Pompeii in 1862 and located in the center of the city, consisted of a ground floor and a ground floor; in the ground floor there were five narrow rooms surrounding the vestibule, each with an area of ​​2 square meters. m., with a bed built into the wall, with drawings and inscriptions of erotic content. Opposite the entrance there was a latrine, and in the vestibule there was a partition for the gatekeeper. The rooms had no windows, only a door to the corridor, so even during the day a fire had to be lit. The decoration of the rooms was primitive and consisted of a blanket on the floor or a bed with a blanket woven from reeds. Probably, prostitutes did not live in brothels permanently, but only came for a certain time established by law. Each prostitute received a separate room for the night with her nickname included in the prostitution lists, or “title,” marked on the door. Another sign indicated whether the room was occupied.

Visiting hours for brothels began at 3 pm and lasted until the morning. Time limits were set by law so that young people did not start visiting these institutions in the morning, neglecting gymnastics.

The price of prostitutes' services varied; Thus, in Pompeii the price at one time varied from 2 to 23 asses.

Women of this profession had their own holiday - Vinalia, which was celebrated on April 23 at the Collin Gate and was dedicated to the goddess Venus.

Legislative regulation

Roman laws regarding prostitution strictly enforced the principle of registration and regulation. The functions of the morality police were assigned to the aediles, who supervised taverns, bathhouses, and brothels and conducted searches there in order to identify unregulated prostitutes and uncover other abuses. All women engaged in prostitution were obliged to declare themselves to the aedile in order to receive permission to do this activity, and their names were entered in a special book. After recording, the woman changed her name. From the writings of Martial and inscriptions in Pompeii, such professional names of prostitutes as Dravka, Itonusia, Lais, Fortunata, Liciska, Thais, Leda, Philenis and others are known. The law also applied to clothing. After registering and changing their name, prostitutes were deprived of the right to wear jewelry appropriate to honest women. While matrons wore a costume called stola, prostitutes wore shorter tunics with togas over them dark color. Matrons convicted of adultery also wore togas, but white. Subsequently, the differences in clothing between prostitutes and other women were smoothed out.