The Brothel

If you were a visitor to Pompeii and had followed in the direction of the erect penises carved into the paving stones, you would most likely have ended up at this building or one like it.

A local guide told me this building had served the Pompeiians as a brothel and while the building wasn't open to tourists, I did visit another brothel and I was able to imagine what life was like for the slaves who served as whores in them.

The majority of buildings in Pompeii were two-storied; the lower levels of most served as taverns, bakeries, butchers, eateries, "takeaway" food outlets or similar. The second level served as the living quarters; however, a lot of Romans ate out as kitchens were very rudimentary and also a fire hazard in such cramped conditions.

When we think of Rome and sex, we are influenced by movie scenes of sex orgies; of mad emperors, exotic dancers and naked, writhing bodies. However, after visiting a Pompeiian brothel, you get a new perspective as you walk through the building.

Upstairs, where the "action' took place, conditions within the brothel would have been grim and fetid. There were no luxurious rooms - only small cubicles with stone benches and a mattress. The walls were decorated with erotic frescos and suggestive graffiti while the front of the cubicles were open which gave little or no privacy. Although, it is thought that curtains were used if the client wished to be discreet.

However, my thoughts were for the wretched slaves who served in these brothels and I wondered about their lives. For example, how many clients a day did they service and what happened to them once they lost their "client appeal".     

Life for a whore-slave wouldn't have been easy!


NB. When writing my story, "Nova Baiae", I used this building as the idea for the tavern owned by Soterus and which features in the early chapters of the story.

Photo and text supplied by me.