VII.12.18 Pompeii. The Brothel or Lupanare. Entrance on Vicolo del Lupanare.

Linked to VII.12.19. Excavated 1862. (Vico del Lupanare 25)

Part 2      Part 1

VII.12.18 Pompeii. May 2015. Graffiti on plastered wall. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VII.12.18 Pompeii. Graffito on plastered wall of prostitute’s room.

According to the Epigraphic Database Roma these read:

Puteolanis feliciter
omnibus Nucherinis
felicia et uncu(m) Pompeianis
Petecusanis       [CIL IV 2183]

VII.12.18 Pompeii. 2015/2016.

Plastered wall of prostitute’s room covered with graffiti left by the clients and the girls that worked there. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VII.12.18 Pompeii. December 2006. Plastered wall of prostitute’s room.

This is covered with graffiti left by the clients and the girls that worked there.

VII.12.18 Pompeii. Graffito on plastered wall of prostitute’s room.

According to the Epigraphic Database Roma these read:

Facilis hic futuit      [CIL IV 2178]

Nica Crete issime      [CIL IV 2178a]

Photo courtesy of Epigraphic Database Roma.

VII.12.18 Pompeii. December 2006. Plastered wall of prostitute’s room.

Covered with graffiti left by the clients and the girls/boys that worked there.

VII.12.18 Pompeii. July 2021.

Looking through doorway of a prostitute’s room with stone bed.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.12.18 Pompeii. December 2006. Doorway into prostitute’s room with stone bed.

VII.12.8 Pompeii. August 2023. Stone bed with pillow in prostitute’s room. Photo courtesy of Maribel Velasco.

VII.12.18 Pompeii. December 2018. Prostitute’s room with stone bed and pillow. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

VII.12.18 Pompeii. July 2021.

Looking through doorway into a room with a stone bed and pillow.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.12.18 Pompeii. December 2018.

Looking towards stone bed and pillow in room for prostitute. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

VII.12.8 Pompeii. August 2023.

Stone bed and pillow in room for prostitute. Photo courtesy of Maribel Velasco.

VII.12.18 Pompeii. December 2006. Prostitute’s room with stone bed.

VII.12.18 Pompeii. July 2021. Painted wall plaster.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.12.18 Pompeii. December 2006. Painted wall plaster.

VII.12.18 Pompeii. July 2021. Painted wall plaster.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.12.18 Pompeii. December 2006. Painted wall plaster.

VII.12.18 Pompeii. July 2021. Detail of painted wall plaster.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.12.18 Pompeii. December 2006. Entrance to latrine.

VII.12.18 Pompeii. July 2021. Latrine.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.12.18 Pompeii. May 2015. Latrine. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VII.12.18 Pompeii. December 2006. Latrine.

VII.12.18 Pompeii. May 2015. Window in latrine. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VI.12.18 Pompeii. April 2022.

Looking towards west wall with doorway to latrine, on left, and north wall, on right. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Ciaramella.

VII.12.18 Pompeii. July 2021. West wall with screen/wall across latrine.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.12.18 Pompeii. December 2018.

Doorway to the latrine at the west end behind the screen. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

VII.12.18 Pompeii. May 2015. Doorway to the latrine at the west end, behind the screen. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VII.12.18 Pompeii. July 2021. Upper west wall above latrine.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.12.18 Pompeii. July 2021.

Looking north from doorway at VII.12.19, with screen/wall of latrine, on left.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.12.18 Pompeii. December 2006. The latrine is behind screen wall at far end.

The central corridor has five prostitutes’ rooms arranged on both sides.

Paintings showing various sexual positions are on the wall above the rooms.

VII.12.18 Pompeii. 1988. The central corridor with five prostitutes’ rooms arranged on both sides. Photo courtesy of Leo C. Curran.

VII.12.18 Pompeii. The Lupanare. Old undated photo showing same scene as above.

Courtesy of the Society of Antiquaries (Fox Collection).

VII.12.18 Pompeii. May 2015. Frieze on upper wall at west end near latrine. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VII.12.18 Pompeii. Old undated photo showing same frieze on upper wall at west end.

Courtesy of the Society of Antiquaries (Fox Collection).

VII.12.18 Pompeii. December 2006. Frieze on upper walls, south, west and north walls.

VII.12.18 Pompeii. May 2015. Looking towards the frieze on the upper wall, south side. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VII.12.18 Pompeii. May 2015. Looking towards doorways to rooms on the south side. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VII.12.18 Pompeii. December 2006. Frieze on upper wall, south side.

VII.12.18 Pompeii. October 2001.

Looking towards doorway in centre of south side. Photo courtesy of Peter Woods.

VII.12.18 Pompeii. December 2018. Looking west in corridor. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

VII.12.18 Pompeii. December 2018. Looking towards west and north walls. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

VII.12.18 Pompeii. December 2018.

Looking towards room at west end on north side. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

VII.12.18 Pompeii. December 2018.

Looking towards doorway on north side at west end. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

VII.12.18 Pompeii. July 2021.

Looking east along north side with three doorways, towards entrance doorway at VII.12.18.

Foto Annette Haug, ERC Grant 681269 DÉCOR.

VII.12.18 Pompeii. October 2001.

Looking towards central doorway on north side. Photo courtesy of Peter Woods.

VII.12.18 Pompeii. December 2018.

Looking towards central doorway on north side. Photo courtesy of Aude Durand.

VII.12.18 Pompeii. May 2015.

Looking towards three doorways on north side, with frieze on the upper wall. Photo courtesy of Buzz Ferebee.

VII.12.18 Pompeii. December 2006, north side. Frieze on upper wall with Priapus in centre.

VII.12.18 Pompeii. October 2014. Tabella ansata.

Be advised.

The visit to the Brothel is allowed by not more than 10 persons at a time - gentlemen. Visitors are asked to wait their turn.

No flash.

I SIGG. – (Signori=Gentlemen) may be a left-over from the days when only men were deemed suitable to enter and see the brothel.

The women in the group were left to while away the time in the Forum, while the men were taken away to see the “sights”!).

Part 1