Lupanar (Ancient Brothel)
On Gingerguide's self-guided Pompeii audio tour, Lupanar (Ancient Brothel) is a stop worth about ~20 min. Stand in front of it, press play for a short narrated story, and put any follow-up question to the built-in AI guide.
- Type historic
- Suggested visit ~20 min
- Pompeii Pompeii guide
About Lupanar (Ancient Brothel)
The only purpose-built brothel in Pompeii, featuring erotic frescoes above each cubicle that served as a menu, graffiti reviews on the walls, and extraordinary insights into Roman commercial sexuality.
The Lupanar is the only purpose-built brothel identified in Pompeii, though the city certainly had many more venues for commercial sex. Located near the intersection of two main streets in the city centre, it is a two-storey building with ten small rooms, five on each floor, each furnished with a stone bed covered by a thin mattress. Above each doorway is a painted fresco depicting a sexual act, which scholars interpret as serving the same function as a modern menu: showing the client what services were available in each room. The walls are covered with graffiti, scratched by clients, workers, or passers-by, recording names, prices, boasts, and what appear to be genuine reviews of the establishment's workers. The Latin graffiti here is among the most candid surviving record of the sexual commerce of the ancient world. The building is extremely popular with visitors and often has queues; it provides remarkable evidence of how Roman society structured commercial sexuality.
Did you know? The Lupanar's graffiti includes at least 120 inscriptions, some of which appear to be genuine reviews of the establishment, making it one of the earliest surviving examples of commercial customer feedback.
How much time do you need at Lupanar (Ancient Brothel)?
Around ~20 min works well for Lupanar (Ancient Brothel) — time to look properly and listen to its story on the spot. Linger if you like; nothing on a self-guided walk is on a clock.
Should you stop at Lupanar (Ancient Brothel)?
Yes — Lupanar (Ancient Brothel) made the cut as one of 15 places the Gingerguide team researched and narrated across Pompeii. The story tells you why it is worth the stop, and the AI guide fills in anything you still wonder.
Nearby stops in Pompeii
Hear the story of Lupanar (Ancient Brothel)
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