Pompeii, Brothel. Direction.New finds: according to the magazine, Archeology Odyssey, March/April 2005, article " 'Daphne is Mine' " -- New Inscriptions from Pompeii's Lupanar, by research journalist, Judith Harris, the brothel at Pompeii is the only brothel from antiquity to be definitely identified. There are some 136 graffiti, the work of the workers and the clients: some 53 gents and 29 ladies. "Fudita sum hic," declares one. Look it up. I did what here?
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The article notes that the prostitutes served both men and women. Equal opportunity pleasures. One, Mula, was a lady who was a "fututrice" -- acting the male role with women. This is not an unusual reference. See article.
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Pompeii, cobble street, Italy.
Antonio Varone, then an archeologist with the "Superindendency" of Pompeii is cited for other references from antiquity to female-female activities. He notes a 1st century AD poem by Martial *; and that people could rent rooms like a motel at the Lupanar. What is the name? From a she-wolf in heat, says the article, thus the lupus lupa. Other buildings in the area also fostered brothel activities.
Another issue, September-October 2002, describes three days of hot ash and cinders falling on the 2,000 Pompeiians who did not escape. Death came by 200 mph winds, a "surge of super-heated gas." They were buried under 20 feet of debris. With exposure, and insufficient funds for conservation, the site is at risk.
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* Martial. First century AD poet, 40-104 AD, Celtic background from Bilbilis, Spain, moved to Rome and cultivated patronage there, including from emperors and others he flattered. He was a master of the pun, the pithy saying, often ribald. See Archeology Odyssey, "In the Here and Noww: The First Century AD poet Martiadfl wryly -- and tirelessly -- observes life in ancient Rome," September-October 2002 at p.42. The following samples are not related to Pompeii, but to practices. See more on practices pornographic at the Naples Archeological Museum, including art and etc. from Pompeii. Archeology Odyssey has illustrations, September-October 2000 issue at p.18 ff. "Ancient Smut". Many were excavated beginning 250 years ago, but considered too racy for showing or publication.
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Epigrams 1.90: http://www.archive.org/stream/martialepigrams01martiala/martialepigrams01martiala_djvu.txt
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XC
QUOD numquam maribus iunctam te, Bassa, videbam
quodque tibi moechum fabula nulla dabat,
omne sed officium circa te semper obibat
turba tui sexus, non adeunte viro,
esse videbaris, fateor, Lucretia nobis : 5
at tu, pro facinus, Bassa, fututor eras.
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Translated at the same site (fair use of huge work)
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IN that I never saw you, Bassa, intimate with men,
and that no scandal assigned you a lover, but every
office a throng of your own sex round you performed
without the approach of man you seemed to me, I
confess, a Lucretia ; yet, Bassa oh, monstrous !
"Monstrous" is not the translation elsewhere of "fututor eras" - do a search. For Bassa, do a "find" at the Epigrams site.
