The Lupanar, located on the eastern side of Pompeii’s ancient Roman forum, is famous for being the best preserved purpose-built brothel in the ancient city. Since Pompeii was closely associated with Venus, the ancient Roman goddess of love, sex, and fertility, this was an important place in the society. The brothel has five rooms on each floor. Its walls and ceiling are covered with Fourth Pompeian Style frescoes that create an intimate and sensual atmosphere.
The Lupanar is a popular tourist destination, but it is advisable to visit before 10:00 AM or after 3:00 PM to avoid long lines. It is a small attraction, taking only 10-15 minutes to visit. The walls are also covered with graffiti that range from texts and images, death notices, poems, etchings, greetings, and compliments. Some of the graffiti have recorded financial transactions, while others tell stories and respond to each other in a sort of dialogue. The Romans called brothels 'lupanar', meaning a wolf den, and a prostitute was called a 'lupa' (she-wolf).
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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