Essay on Prostitution in Pompeii - 2761 Words

Prostitution, as stated by Flemming, is known as a form of sexual activity, a kind of sexual style or category, and a form of economic activity, a way of making a living through the provisions of certain services, by behaving in accordance with, or falling into such a category (39). This definition, though, is controversial. While conducting research for this project, we found that most topics regarding prostitution and its affiliates were controversial. Each author gave a differing interpretation for the same data. Due to this, our project centered on the female prostitutes, even though there is evidence of male prostitutes. Virtue is something lofty, elevated and regal, invincible and indefatigable; Pleasure is something lowly and†¦show more content†¦The womans sexual honor also represented the honor of her family. It was the mans job to protect the familys honor and; therefore, the sexual integrity of the women within the family (McGinn, 10-11). Women were expected to remain sexually faithful to their husbands, while men were free to sleep with prostitutes and slaves as they wished. Prostitutes and Pimps Prostitutes were seen as both useful and unsavory at the same time (Flemming, 44). Mens nature required a setting aside of a class of degraded women to service them (McGinn, 214). The Augustan Laws regarding prostitution are a good illustration of the sheer hypocrisy men displayed with regard to the women in their society. For example, the Tax legitimized prostitution as a legal entity, while the Registration stigmatized women, making them ineligible for respectable work and isolating them to the lower class of society (McGinn, 212 287). The authoritarian elite of the Roman Empire regarded prostitution as an institution through which women were made and marketed as sexual objects of a certain, approved type for the general populace (Flemming, 56). In general, prostitution was seen like everything else, to be enjoyed in moderation (Flemming, 44). Pimps and procuresses were seen as even more disagreeable because of the widespread belief that they exploited the weak, and were merchants of dishonor (McGinn, 136). Basically, laws were established to make prostitution legal butShow MoreRelatedThe And Sexual Graffiti And Erotic Art1188 Words   |  5 Pages The information about brothels in Pompeii is much disputed. There is only one location, now called the Lupanar or Purpose-Built Brothel, which has been conclusively identified as a brothel. Accepted indications of ancient brothels include sexual graffiti, erotic art, and small rooms with stone beds. These indicators are found in more than 35 sites around Pompeii. Further research of these sites reveals that many were actually bars, inns, and baths, as well as stalls on the street that could easilyRead MoreThe Private and Public Leisure Activities of Pompeii and Herculaneum1237 Words   |  5 PagesThe private and public leisure activities of Pompeii and Herculaneum Introduction: The private and public leisure activities of Pompeii and Herculaneum were largely abundant. Many activities could be participated in and were used often. These include Drama performances, gladiatorial games, drinking, gambling, brothels, exercise, gardens, baths and food and dining. All these were an important part of Pompeian and Herculaneum life. They were seen as important to keep the body and mind healthyRead MoreAnalysis Of Pompeii In The Satyricon1146 Words   |  5 Pages The Satyricon has been dated to the first century CE, in which Pompeii was a Roman city and the eruption of Mount Vesuvius happened in 79 CE. Due to the mentions of Pompeii in The Satyricon without mention of the eruption, it can be assumed that the novel was written before the eruption and that some of the Roman lifestyles can be applied to Pompeii as it still stood and was partially Romanized during this text. Although this Roman work is a fictional satire, it still illuminates what social partiesRead Mo reA Woman s Status During The Roman World1448 Words   |  6 Pagesirrevocably inferior to the rest of the Roman populace, sex work itself was not outlawed. The popularity of brothels juxtaposed with the degradation of the women working in the brothels reflects the ambivalent attitude of Roman society toward prostitution. Over time, Roman lawmakers attempted to assuage this cognitive dissonance by first regulating sex workers’ socially, recognising their rights to exist and ply their trade while increasingly segregating them from respectable society. The changesRead MorePompeii and Herculaneum Leisure Activities3640 Words   |  15 PagesPompeii and Herculaneum: Leisure Activities For each Ive chosen one main source, and gathered a variety of other sources to help explain and reinforce it further. I find that one source (particularly buildings alone) are not enough to base all of the information on, and you gain a more comprehensive understanding by combining them. Entertainment was essential to daily life in Ancient Rome.   According to Juvenal1, it seemed that all Romans were interested in was bread and circuses,   and withRead MoreProstitution And Its Effects On Women And Their Clients1503 Words   |  7 Pages In the United States, prostitution is regarded as vile, crude, and an assortment of other words. Those in the profession are regarded as no better than sluts or whores because not only as they having sex, they’re taking money just for some man to use their bodies to release his sexual tension. As a result of this thinking, only a few counties in one state has legalized prostitution and another state had it for a time as a result of a complete accident in the wording of the law. The reasons for theRead MoreThe Religious And Social Differences Between Ancient Greece And Rome Essay1423 Words   |  6 Pagessimilar—but that just is not true, not in entirety. The pagan gods of ancient Rome are known to be more violent t han their Greek counterparts; for example, Venus was the Roman goddess of not just love, but also of â€Å"sex, beauty, fertility, and even prostitution† (Garcia). On the other side, the Greek goddess Aphrodite was solely about love, beauty, and desire; and not just simple love either, she was also known for inspiring the love of one’s self as well. Aside from the differences in the Greek and RomanRead MoreThe True Tale Of The Goddess1484 Words   |  6 Pagesprogressed in stages in the late first century B.C. and early first century A.D., located in present day Geyre, Turkey and undoubtedly well-known during the time of Jesus. Notably, the city s remarkable state of preservation led to comparisons with Pompeii; although the temple’s ruins retain significant damage, today this area persists as being widely recognized as one of the best-preserved sites in the Classical World. Indisputably, Aphrodite existed in a variety of sacred sites, spotlighted as theRead Mo reShould Prostitution Be Allowed?3116 Words   |  13 PagesProstitution is known as the world’s oldest profession. Should prostitution be allowed? Or should it stay banned with no intention of becoming permitted or legal? Some historians have confirmed prostitution is unquestionably the oldest profession going back to ancient times, but other’s will dispute that it is not, yet everybody agrees paying for sexual favors have been around for a very long time. There will forever be a demand for the services that it offers, prostitution will be present in someRead MorePornography In The Media1532 Words   |  7 Pagespornography can be used to treat voyeurism. Etymology The word is similar to the Modern Greek πΠ¿Ã ÃŽ ½ÃŽ ¿ÃŽ ³Ã ÃŽ ±Ãâ€ ÃŽ ¯ÃŽ ±, which derives from the Greek words Ï€ÏÅ'Ï ÃŽ ½ÃŽ ·, and ÃŽ ³Ã ÃŽ ¬Ãâ€ ÃŽ µÃŽ ¹ÃŽ ½, and the suffix -ÃŽ ¯ÃŽ ±, thus meaning a written description or illustration of prostitutes or prostitution. No date is known for the first use of the word in Greek; the earliest attested, most related word one could find in Greek, is, pornographos, i.e. someone writing about harlots, in the Deipnosophists of Athenaeus. The Modern Greek word pornographia