Skip to main content Accessibility help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
×
  1. Home
  2. Books
  3. The Brothel of Pompeii
  • Cited by 9
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press
Online publication date:
May 2019
Print publication year:
2019
Online ISBN:
9781108655040
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108655040
Subjects:
Ancient History, Classical Studies, Classical Art and Architecture
Information

Book description

In 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.

Reviews

'… richly illustrated (and) accompanied by thoughtful analysis.'

Sarah E. Bond Source: 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 Source: 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 Source: 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 Source: CJ Online

Refine List

Actions for selected content:

Select all | Deselect all
  • View selected items
  • Export citations
  • Download PDF (zip)
  • Save to Kindle
  • Save to Dropbox
  • Save to Google Drive

Save Search

You can save your searches here and later view and run them again in "My saved searches".

Please provide a title, maximum of 40 characters.
Cancel
×

Contents

Contents
  • Three - Graffiti
    pp 40-63
      • You have access
    • PDF
    • HTML
    • Export citation
References

Metrics

Altmetric attention score

Full text views

Total number of HTML views: 0
Total number of PDF views: 0 *
Loading metrics...

Book summary page views

Total views: 0 *
Loading metrics...

* Views captured on Cambridge Core between #date#. This data will be updated every 24 hours.

Usage data cannot currently be displayed.