THE risque images were painted on a Pompeii wall, showing the services offered inside the doomed city’s brothels. Warning: Explicit content.
Excavations of Pompeii revealed ancient erotic wallpaper. Picture: Splash NewsMore From Travel Stories
The “Lupanar of Pompeii” features a number of old wall paintings that show explicit scenes, The Sun reports.
The famous brothel, which once had ten rooms, was popular with men before the Roman city was wiped out in 79AD.
It has become a major tourist attraction since it was reopened to the public in 2006.
It is believed the paintings, which depict group sex and many other acts, indicate the various services on offer.
Each one of the ten rooms in the brothel contained a stone bed that was covered with a mattress where the prostitute would entertain clients.
It has been suggested, however, that the images on the wall are an idealised version of sex and the reality for those living in the brothel was much more grim.
Some researchers believe prostitutes in Pompeii were slaves and were not trained in any profession, meaning they had no real alternatives for work.
Excavations of Pompeii (Naples) December 7, 2016 Open the small lupanare with his new frescoes to erotic wallpaper Ph: Fotonews / Renna Ref: SPL1403469 071216 Picture by: Fotonews / Splash News / Renna Splash News and Pictures Los Angeles: 310-821-2666 New York: 212-619-2666 London: 870-934-2666 photodesk@splashnews.com
Excavations of Pompeii (Naples) December 7, 2016 Open the small lupanare with his new frescoes to erotic wallpaper Ph: Fotonews / Renna Ref: SPL1403469 071216 Picture by: Fotonews / Splash News / Renna Splash News and Pictures Los Angeles: 310-821-2666 New York: 212-619-2666 London: 870-934-2666 photodesk@splashnews.com
Also they believe the chambers of the brothel were windowless, cramped and uncomfortable places.
Western University Professor Kelly Olson, who has visited the site, spoke to CBC’s program The Nature of Things.
She said: “It is not a very nice place to work.
“It’s very small, dank and the rooms are rather dark and uncomfortable.”
Oslon also explained that prostitution was legal in Pompeii but most of the woman were slaves.
She added: “Married men could sleep with anyone as long as they kept their hands off other men’s wives.
“Married women were not supposed to have sex with anyone else.”
Despite being closed for more than 2000 years, some holiday makers have attempted to rechristen the building, the Daily Mail has reported.
Three French people were arrested in 2014 for trespassing after reportedly breaking into the site for a late night romp.
Excavations of Pompeii (Naples) December 7, 2016 Open the small lupanare with his new frescoes to erotic wallpaper Ph: Fotonews / Renna Ref: SPL1403469 071216 Picture by: Fotonews / Splash News / Renna Splash News and Pictures Los Angeles: 310-821-2666 New York: 212-619-2666 London: 870-934-2666 photodesk@splashnews.com
Pompeii is an ancient Roman town near Naples in Italy.
An eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD destroyed and buried most of the city under between 13 and 20ft of volcanic ash and pumice.
The city’s sudden burial actually protected it against vandalism, looting and the destructive effects of climate and weather.
The ruins of Pompeii were first discovered in the 16th Century and a number of artefacts were uncovered.
It is known as a Roman town frozen in time and now is a popular tourist destination and sees up to 2.5 million visitors a year who are able to look around Roman shops, baths and houses.
The city also has UNESCO World Heritage Site status, which means it is recognised as a historic landmark and is protected by international treaties.
This article originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission.
Source: news.com.au
