27 October 2006

Lupanare



Pompeii’s biggest and most richly decorated brothel, The "wolves' lair" reopened to the public yesterday after extensive restoration.

Pompeii was packed with bordellos. At least 25 have been identified. But most occupied a single room, usually above a wine shop. The "Lupanare" (or lupanar), was different. Archaeologists believe it was the ancient city's only purpose-built whorehouse. So-called because, in Latin, lupa (she-wolf) was a common term for a prostitute, it consisted of 10 rooms and a latrine beneath the stairs. Set into the wall of each of the women's rooms was a stone bed covered with a mattress.



Researchers believe that its wall paintings, which depict different position, were intended to advertise the various specialities on offer. The more elaborately painted upper floor, which had a separate entrance, is thought to have been reserved for better-off clients. The prostitutes were slaves, usually of Greek or Eastern origin. Their earnings were collected by the owner or manager of the brothel. Well it seems that the modern sex industry emulates its classical counterpart in that respect....

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

I suppose it probably worked like one of those fast-food restaurants where you have to point at a picture and say, "Want that one".

elasticwaistbandlady said...

Using that theory then roger b., I would be the supersized upgrade! :) Combo specials might be more interesting too.

What primitive people. Not one of those depictions showed a Dirty Sanchez!

Oh, and this article is going to get Christian conservatives (alright, that would be ME) going about how the wicked society of Pompeii was struck down by the hand of God humself.

jams o donnell said...

LOL Roger If the fast food things ever gets bad I suppose McDonalds can go in for drive through bordellos!

True Mullets that's why I give thanks for duvets!

Hmm ewbl, I dread to think what the combo actually would entail. As for a vengeful god the one thing that strikes me about that is the way an omnipotent deity is so indiscriminate...

Agnes said...

They had stylish brothels, of good taste, we have only magazines and TV channels of bad taste. +chatrooms and blogs. How unfair. Such is life. Pfft.

jams o donnell said...

Although I cannot speak from experience I would imnagine few brothels aspire to such decor either... Althouh sme things don't change.. prostitutes as slaves and sourcing them from the East.. Plus ca change, sadly...

elasticwaistbandlady said...

Typical American brothels in Nevada like the now defunct Mustang Ranch featured lots of garish gaudiness and glitz. Gold fringed lampshades, and red velvet sofas, with brocaded wallpaper.

Puke!

Agnes said...

Wow, Elasticwaistbandlady...how do you know? Typical Romanian brothels (not the official ones, those are called offices) were very barren, grey, asexual. And expensive. And wow Jams, a male SHOULD know better....

jams o donnell said...

Ugh indeed ewbl.. I think I would want a brothel with more taste!

hmm red, I think the not-wife would ensure I parted company with my testicles if I went on a "fact finding" mission!

elasticwaistbandlady said...

Ummm, our local newspaper features a lot of trashy stuff inside along with their "hard hitting" journalistic columns. They did an article about the auction of the Mustang Ranch furnishings when they closed, and I remember the abhorrent merchandise. Then I wondered aloud about the kind of people who wanted that crap.

jams o donnell said...

YThere's no accounting for what people will like, ewbl...

Anonymous said...

The largest brothel we have in this country is in Washington D.C.
They'll do ANYTHING for money.