JDMeister
Forum Moderator
- May 1, 2021
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FYI
There were many brothels in ancient Rome, but standard Roman coins, Serters and Denars, were not used and were even banned from being there. Store-bought Tokens were used for Denar and Serters and images on them were often obscene. Reason is understandable, because on all Roman coins there was a head image of emperor of that period. Even picture of emperor entering the brothel was synonymous with humiliating and cursing him. Of course, punishment was severe.
In resorts like Herculaneum and Pompeii, brothels were much busier places.
Over time, such places encouraged their customers to use their own currency, called spintriae in Middle Ages. Prevalence of prostitution in Roman culture can be inferred from concentration of this coin in circulation and abundance of examples at these resorts in southern Italy already mentioned.
There were many brothels in ancient Rome, but standard Roman coins, Serters and Denars, were not used and were even banned from being there. Store-bought Tokens were used for Denar and Serters and images on them were often obscene. Reason is understandable, because on all Roman coins there was a head image of emperor of that period. Even picture of emperor entering the brothel was synonymous with humiliating and cursing him. Of course, punishment was severe.
In resorts like Herculaneum and Pompeii, brothels were much busier places.
Over time, such places encouraged their customers to use their own currency, called spintriae in Middle Ages. Prevalence of prostitution in Roman culture can be inferred from concentration of this coin in circulation and abundance of examples at these resorts in southern Italy already mentioned.
