The brothel of Pompeii : sex, class, and gender at the margins of Roman society / Sarah Levin-Richardson.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Levin-Richardson, Sarah, 1980- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Brothels--Italy--Pompeii (Extinct city).

Brothels.

Prostitution--Italy--Pompeii (Extinct city).

Prostitution.

Pompeii (Extinct city)--Social conditions.

Pompeii (Extinct city).

Pompeii (Extinct city)--Social life and customs.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xix, 243 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Place of Publication:

Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2019.

Summary:

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.

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 27 May 2019).

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1-108-75184-9

1-108-65504-1