History of brothels: from ancient times to the present day
Prostitution still existed in the ancient world. The priests of love worked in brothels and brothels. Over the centuries, society”s attitude towards this place has changed. Today their activities are prohibited in Russia, but in some countries they operate legally.
Contents of the article:
Courtesans of China
Initially, monsters could dance, play instruments and talk. They were supposed to entertain men and brighten up parties. From China, monsters began to appear throughout Asia.
Such girls were beautiful, attractive and smart. Among them there were many wonderful poets who could speak on a variety of topics and even bring hieroglyphs to life. Therefore, the rich aristocracy highly valued them.
Brothels were called “houses of singing maidens.” The girls stayed there until they paid off their tuition debts. Girls got into this area in different ways. Some were sold by their parents, some were stolen, some came on their own.
She paid the debts alone or her patrons did it for her. In the future, she was released or opened her own brothel. The poorer brothels were located outside the city, while the richer ones were located directly in the city.
The entertainment district of Pinkanli was located next to the Imperial Palace. As a rule, there were not prostitutes in the courtyards, but rather mistresses. Their task was to attract men and gain their favor.
They were skilled herbalists and were familiar with aphrodisiacs. Translation powders made it possible to avoid pregnancy, and special mixtures solved clients” impotence problems. The court knew how to seduce and mastered the art of eroticism.
Xue Tao was a famous poet, but before her fame, she worked as a prostitute in the Temple of Kindness. Her talents included playing chess, dancing, music and calligraphy. The military governor became interested in her poetry, and she became his mistress, which made her famous throughout China.
The yard was a literary hero. Kar-wai”s film “The Hand” was banned from showing for a long time. There were two heroes in it — she is a prostitute and he is a tailor. She is sick with pneumonia, but he is waiting for her to finish serving her clients faithfully. The prostitute makes her lover comfortable, but he cannot taste her.
In modern China, brothels and prostitution are prohibited. Today they work underground and no longer contain such uncompromising conditions.
In our article you will find a detailed story about Japanese brothels from their origins to the present.
Life in Pompeii
The most famous brothel in Ancient Rome is the Lupanarium Grande. When it was first discovered in 1862, the Catholic monk Ks walled up the find and plastered the walls. It was only during the same period that he found this building. Its restoration made it possible to restore the frescoes, supports and beams.
To understand that it was a brothel. The walls were decorated with pornographic paintings. Inscriptions with erotic content have been preserved. The architecture of the building suggests. Many rooms contained only beds and no houses.
There were five small rooms on the ground floor. They were intended for casual passersby. The client was taken out into the corridor, and he immediately saw a picture on the wall openly depicting sexual intercourse.
Initially, archaeologists suggested that these were visual “menus” of brothels. In fact, these are just fancy examples. Bales of hay were placed on stone beds, and for wealthier guests the rooms were decorated with beautifully decorated beds.
On the second floor there were rooms for respectable clients. They were large and could accommodate several people. If desired, they can be enjoyed in company.
More than 40 brothels, hotels and taverns were found in Pompeii. Among the prostitutes there were not only slaves, but also nobles. The men were chosen. Gladiators did not take such work lightly, and wealthy Roman women were willing to pay good money for a night spent in valiant warfare.
Sex was a symbol of power. Therefore, people sought to get them, including money. It was believed that through sex people receive divine energy. Therefore, orgies were not uncommon.
Some believed that volcanic eruptions were a punishment for a vicious lifestyle.
Ancient Greece
The Greeks were also no strangers to the temptations of carnal lust. Brothels were known as pornia, and prostitutes had the lowest social status. In brothels they wore light clothing or greeted their clients naked. Each visitor chose a woman according to his preferences.
Visiting such establishments was inexpensive. In addition to expenses, gifts were added to prostitutes. Brothels did not charge high prices. Heterosexual services cost more, but functioned separately.
Brothel owners were required to pay taxes. A small fee was also collected from prostitutes. As a rule, brothels were under the control of the authorities.
The walls of the houses were decorated with erotic inscriptions and pornographic paintings. Each room was fenced and had a sign with the name of the prostitute and the price of her services.
Tsarist Russia
Prostitution has always existed in Russia. It was either banned or tried to be legalized. In the 18th century, venereal diseases were already known, but there was no effective treatment. The main problem was the syphilis epidemic. That is why the authorities tried to legalize prostitution.
Read also: History of brothels: how did prostitutes exist in ancient times?
The very term “brothel” in society is already recognized as a dirty word on a subconscious level, where prostitution is rightly called promiscuous.
The struggle was started by Peter I and continued by Catherine II. The next emperor, Paul I, also took the initiative. Prisons were built for prostitutes, who were forced to wear yellow dresses to distinguish them from respectable women. They were expelled from Moscow and St. Petersburg, but to no avail. They were exiled to remote areas of Irkutsk and Siberia. However, prostitution went underground and remained in demand. Therefore, in 1843 they tried to legalize it.
A legislative framework was developed to regulate the activities of brothels. The book was very heavy and contained complete information about the characteristics of the work.
Only women aged 30 to 60 could open brothels. It is unknown why such gender discrimination occurred. It may have been believed that men were cruel and treated women workers poorly. Each candidate was subject to police verification.
It was forbidden to establish brothels near schools, colleges and churches. It was forbidden to hang portraits of the king in buildings. Clients could not be received on holidays, Sundays or during Holy Week.
There were no identifying marks on the front of the brothel. No signs, banners or posters. The beds were separated by screens or partitions.
Prostitutes received official work in an attempt to legalize prostitution. Therefore, achieving this position was not so easy. Each girl had to be visited by a commission of doctors and police officers. They were recorded, registered, passports were confiscated and yellow tickets were issued.
A prostitute”s documentation included her personal information, a photograph, and doctor”s appointment records.
Brothel prices varied. The cheapest segment cost 50 kopecks, so such prostitutes could service fewer than 20 clients per day. The middle segment cost 7 rubles and fewer than 12 clients. The highest was 12 rubles and no more than 7 clients.
In practice, everything depended on the brothel manager. Establishments were required to pay taxes. Typically, the brothel owner received three-quarters, and the prostitute a quarter. In practice, this was rare.
In Tsarist Russia, venereal diseases were transmitted by force, and the priests of love made a small profit. It was a small sum, but even that was considered unprecedented for that time.
A prostitute had no other options. Even if she got her passport back, society would consider her a lost and fallen woman. In ordinary life, the road was closed. Therefore, he was forced to work in this field for the rest of his life.
In Kherson, brothels were popular during the summer. Visitors, tourists, and others sought easy entertainment.
The story of Kim Bok Dong, one of the surviving “comfort women”
If you want to know what sex was like in Ancient Rus”, follow the link!
Modern world
In the modern world, attitudes toward brothels are mixed. In some places, they are considered normal and legal, while in others, their activities are prohibited. In Australia, for example, brothels are legal in some states.
Locating a brothel is easy—the house number is marked in red and clearly visible in the dark. There are two entrances—one for everyone, the other for private clients.
The interior is beautiful, the lounges are comfortable. On various days, there are both available girls and no girls. The law regulates recreational periods and weekends.
Cameras are available in the hallways. Typically, four or five girls appear before the client. They shrug their shoulders and appear to have fictitious names. Excessive cold-calling is discouraged.
The manager explains the price list, the man pays for the service, and goes to his room. There, he hints at renting a shower. The girl brings lubricant, condoms, and toys.
Australian prostitutes have their own union, which protects women from aggression and upholds their rights. Educational books are regularly published, informing them of safety precautions and the signs of mental illness.
The range of services varies from client to client. All actions are performed only with a condom, including fellatio. If a girl seems suspicious, she calls the manager and talks to him. In this case, the money is returned.
Non-standard approaches
In Denmark it is legal to work as a prostitute, but only if it is part of the job. This protects the lower part of the population from attacks and may force them to leave such areas. There is no consensus in national society about the admissibility of the existence of brothels. Some see them as a necessity, others oppose them and present them as an example of moral degradation.
In Brazil, prostitution is legal, there are brothels of various levels, but at the same time, HIV is widespread. Therefore, anyone who uses the services of such women puts themselves at serious risk.
Prostitution is also legal in Bolivia. Workers constantly go on strike and demand normalization of relations. Therefore, before your trip, you should find out whether brothels are open.
In Ecuador, all brothels are licensed, all prostitutes are officially employed and have the opportunity to protect their rights. Some government agencies regularly inspect working conditions.
There are also brothels in Finland. Various types of clubs are popular, where hot girls and massages are offered instead of dessert. Such establishments must be hidden from view, and entry into them must be strictly through facial control. Prostitutes are in very high demand.
The Netherlands has the highest rate of legal prostitution. Therefore, the country has long been a haven for sex tourism. Each priest inevitably undergoes a medical examination, there is a registration, and the authorities ensure that, if necessary, they receive timely treatment.
Prostitutes pay taxes, and their work is considered no worse than that of others. Society gradually changed its attitude towards them due to the fact that legalization took place in 2000. European teenagers especially love to travel to the Netherlands to lose their virginity.
In Singapore, special premises are allocated for brothels. They employ only adult women, offering all types of sex and unconventional pleasures. Priestesses undergo constant medical examinations, so there is no need to fear anything infectious.
Despite the development of this industry throughout the world, there is still no consensus on the existence of brothels. Some consider them vicious and unworthy of existence. On the contrary, others favor legalization.
In Russia, prostitution and brothels are prohibited, but they operate underground. Massage parlors can disguise themselves as this. They offer the population a full range of sexual services. However, such activities are illegal and therefore involve certain risks.
