Sex Work in Pompeii
The Ancients
History Hit
4.7 • 4.5K Ratings
🗓️ 20 August 2023
⏱️ 40 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
This episode contains some strong language references to sexual content.
Pompeii is shrouded in myths and legends about it's vibrant, after hours, night life. With theories of carved stone penis' pointing towards brothels, frescoes of graphic images, and bawdy graffiti immortalising individual's experiences - there's a lot to unpack when it comes to Sex in Pompeii. But what can we decipher from the archaeology about the lives of sex workers in Pompeii - and are their experiences universal, even today?
In the third episode of our special series on Pompeii, we're delving into the Brothels of Pompeii with Sex Historian, and host of Betwixt the Sheets, Dr Kate Lister. Looking at the shared experiences between sex workers and gladiators, secret Museums filled with sordid artefacts, and the images that decorate Pompeii's Lupanar - what do we know about Sex in Pompeii? And if you follow the Penis' - where do they actually take you?
The series was written and produced by Elena Guthrie
The Assistant Producer was Annie Coloe
It was edited and mixed by Aidan Lonergan
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Welcome to the Ancients from History Hit. |
| 0:02.7 | To listen to all of our episodes Add Free and watch hundreds of history documentaries |
| 0:07.6 | downloads the History Hit app, we'll go to historyhit.com forward slash subscribe. |
| 0:14.0 | And if you're an Apple listener, you can subscribe for new Add Free episodes within the app. |
| 0:30.4 | It's The Ancients on History Hit. I'm Tristan Hughes your host. |
| 0:36.1 | And in today's episode we are continuing our special mini-series all about Pompeii. |
| 0:42.4 | Today's episode is an interview with one of our sister history hit podcast hosts, |
| 0:48.4 | the host of the Sexon scandal podcast But Wix, the Sheets, Dr Kate Lister, who also has recently |
| 0:56.0 | been nominated at the British podcast awards for Rising Stars a huge congrats to Kate. |
| 1:01.7 | Kate graced us with her presence for this episode where she talks all things sex work. |
| 1:08.8 | In Pompeii, what is the archaeology? Whether it's frescoes or graffiti or a particular building |
| 1:15.4 | itself I'm thinking, especially one building that is known as the Lupinum or the Wolfsten, |
| 1:20.9 | more on that in the interview. What is all of this archaeology revealed about sex work in |
| 1:26.0 | ancient Roman society? And specifically, in ancient Pompeii, well Kate is here to talk all about it |
| 1:33.0 | and I really do hope you enjoy. Naturally, there are themes of a sexual nature in this episode, |
| 1:38.7 | so this podcast might not be for you. However, this might have piqued your interest even more, |
| 1:44.8 | and if so, listen on. So that further ado, here's Kate. |
| 1:50.8 | Kate, my normal introduction was always great to have you on the ancient's podcast. |
| 1:54.6 | But I feel you're already part of the podcast because you're part of history here, |
| 1:58.6 | so all I'm just going to say is hello and it is wonderful to see you today. |
| 2:02.7 | Hello, I'm really pleased to be here on the ancient's. |
| 2:06.9 | Yes, absolutely. You've skipped across to the ancient's from Betwix the Sheets, your wonderful |
... |
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