Was the Roman Colosseum a brothel?

Prostitution was neither illegal nor stigmatized in ancient Rome, and in fact it was not unusual for an independent-minded upper-class woman to ... read more

Brothels in Rome are known from literary sources, regionary lists, and comparative archaeological evidence from Pompeii. A brothel is commonly called a lupanar or lupanarium, from lupa, "she-wolf", slang for "prostitute," or fornix, a general term for a vaulted space or cellar. read more

The Colosseum is a compulsory stop on any Roman itinerary, but night visits make this place even more special. Join this guided tour and get exclusive access to the Colosseum with an expert guide. Immerse yourself in this living museum and relive the age of gladiators and emperors. read more

"To leave no kind of plunder untried, he opened a brothel in his palace, setting apart a number of rooms and furnishing them to suit the grandeur of the place, where matrons and freeborn youths should stand exposed. read more