Lupanar (Brothel), Pompei (must see)

The Lupanar is Pompeii’s most famous brothel and one of the city’s most revealing windows into everyday Roman life. It was the largest known brothel in Pompeii and remained in use until the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Its name comes from lupa, meaning “she-wolf,” a derogatory Roman nickname for prostitutes, who were often viewed as predatory figures.

The Lupanar itself had ten small rooms arranged over two floors. The first highlight can be seen by stepping through the main street door into the narrow central hallway of the lower level. Here, five tiny rooms flank the corridor, each fitted with an unyielding brick platform that served as a bed, likely covered with a mattress or blankets. The brothel is thought to have been used mainly by ordinary townspeople rather than wealthy or prominent figures.

Given their cramped nature, the cells may feel claustrophobic. Step back into the hallway and you will find the second highlight: the erotic wall frescoes. Set into the masonry directly above each small room doorway, they show brightly painted couples. These paintings also help clarify an old misunderstanding about Pompeii. Early excavators often assumed that any house or bath building with erotic frescoes must have been a brothel, but later research showed that erotic art was more widespread in Roman domestic and public decoration. The Lupanar was the largest of about ten brothels in the city, many of them probably simple one-room establishments.

The last highlight is also found along the walls of the hallway. This time, however, it is graffiti set at eye level. These inscriptions are a rare trace of everyday literacy left by common Roman citizens, recording names, prices, boasts, jokes, and brief comments by clients and passersby. These delicate carvings remain clearly visible on the ancient plaster.