Pompeii/Was There Prostitution in the Baths?
A 9 research paper that investigates this question. Numerous erotic frescoes, which have been buried under volcanic ash for the last 2000 years, have been unearthed by archeologists in ancient Roman city of Pompeii. Seven erotic frescoes, depicting a great deal of sexual activity involving numerous partners (which includes perhaps the only lesbian scene in Pompeii), were revealed and opened for viewing by the public in 2001 ("Erotic frescoes"). Nevertheless, Antonio Varon, of the Pompeii archeological heritage has pointed out that "There is no element that would make one think that the upper floor of the Subterranean Spa was a brothel" ("Erotic frescoes"). While eroticism is directly associated in Western culture with prostitution, this may have not been true of Pompeii. The writer discusses the debate over the evidence and gives background on Pompeii, its destruction and excavation. Bibliography lists 6 sources.
File: D0_khpompii.rtf
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