The Brothel of Pompeii
The Brothel of Pompeii
£90.00
GBPIn this book, Sarah Levin-Richardson offers the first authoritative examination of Pompeii's purpose-built brothel, the only verifiable brothel from Greco-Roman antiquity. Taking readers on a tour of all of the structure's evidence, including the rarely seen upper floor, she illuminates the subculture housed within its walls. Here, prostitutes could flout the norms of society and proclaim themselves sexual subjects and agents, while servile clients were allowed to act as 'real men'. Prostitutes and clients also exchanged gifts, greetings, jokes, taunts, and praise. Written in a clear, engaging style, and accompanied by an ample illustration program and translations of humorous and haunting graffiti, Levin-Richardson's book will become a new touchstone for those interested in the history of women, slavery, and prostitution in the classical world.
- Collects and analyzes all of the purpose-built brothel's material evidence
- The appendix offers translations of all of the brothel's graffiti
- Focuses on the real individuals who worked in and patronized the establishment
- Incorporates comparative material on prostitution and employs feminist methodologies
Reviews & endorsements
'… richly illustrated (and) accompanied by thoughtful analysis.' Sarah E. Bond, History Today
'… invites readers to consider the famous Pompeiian brothel in the context of the gender and class of clients and prostitutes, as a window to understanding social hierarchy in the ancient city.' L. De Danaan, Choice
'If Sarah Levin-Richardson is right that this brothel was an economic anomaly, rather than a representation of common Roman practice, this turns our understanding of ancient prostitution on its head. The Brothel of Pompeii brings home the value of stopping to listen to the unheard voices of the past.' Rebecca Langlands, The Times Literary Supplement
'With this definitive publication, Levin-Richardson makes a lasting contribution to our knowledge of ancient prostitution and to ancient social history in general.' Marilyn Skinner, CJ Online
Product details
May 2019Hardback
9781108496872
266 pages
261 × 184 × 18 mm
0.75kg
74 b/w illus.
Available
Table of Contents
- Part I:
- 1. Architecture
- 2. Material finds
- 3. Graffiti
- 4. Frescoes
- 5. Upper floor
- Part II:
- 6. Male clients
- 7. Female prostitutes
- 8. Male prostitutes.
