Prostitution in ancient Rome

Uncommon card · No. 179728

Prostitution in ancient Rome was legal and licensed. The moral stance of Roman society towards it is a complex topic and there are indications that it evolved through time. Prostitution took many forms. It ranged from the sexual services that were routinely offered in many establishments - such as Roman baths (thermae) or inns (tabernae and stabula) - to the dedicated brothels (lupanar). Most prostitutes were female slaves or freedwomen. The balance of voluntary to forced prostitution can only be guessed at. Privately held slaves were considered property under Roman law, so it was legal for an owner to employ them as prostitutes. Pimping and prostitution were, however, considered disgraceful and dishonourable activities, and their practitioners were considered “infamous” (infames); for citizens, this meant loss of reputation and many of the rights and privileges attached to citizenship. Slave-owning patrons and investors may have sought to avoid loss of privilege by appointing slaves or...

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