Stigmatized and condemned many times in history, but secretly funded, prostitution is considered the oldest profession in the world. Although now we associate this occupation with decay and even the dirt a certain social category lives , sidelined, in the past this job was seen very differently.
Prostitution seems to be one of the “necessary evils” of human civilization, as has been mentioned since in the oldest historical documents. However, it’s bot common in tribal communities such as the Aborigines of Australia or tribes of Burma.
The first mentions of these trades appear in the documents of Babylon, Sumeria and Phoenicia, where prostitution was not stigmatized, on the contrary, was considered a sacred profession. In this case we speak of giving the body for sexual pleasure as a form of religious ritual, not for financial gain.
In Babylon, for example, every woman was obliged that once in their life to give herself to a foreigner, in the sanctuary of the goddess of love and fertility. This deity, represented by Aphrodite / Venus in the greco-roman mythology, is known under various names, depending on the region where it was venerated.
Assyrians called him Mullissu, in Mesopotamia was called Ninlil, and later in Babylon and Akkad was called Ishtar. Sumerians had Inanna and the semitic peoples had Astarte.
The custom is mentioned by the Greek historian Herodotus, who wrote “Paradise homes,” dedicated to various deities, where was practiced this form of sacred prostitution. Temples were closed only in the fourth century at the order of emperor Constantine.
Rituals of this kind, considered immoral in judaism, are condemned in the Bible where the jews are warned not to become kedeshah, term given within adepts of Canaanite pagan religion and who practiced prostitution in temples.
The greek civilization also has adopted this form of worship of fertility gods. From historical documents we know that in the city Corinth, at the Temple of Aphrodite, were serving women called hetairai , offering men carnal pleasures, and this custom was taken off in the hellenistic world in Cyprus, Sicily and Minor Asia .
The ancient greeks did not condemned prostitution even when it was not as “sacred”. In Athens were legal brothels, state-controlled with prices officially established, employing not only women but also teenagers. At the same time, the law condemning to death the author of a rape or an adulterer if it was caught red-handed.
As sex outside of marriage was doomed, and the age at which a greek man was marry , was about 30 years, he did not have much choice if he wanted to have sex up to that age. For this were prostitutes or slaves who were used to meet often this needs of the owner too.
“Low-cost” prostitutes and luxury courtesans
In ancient Greece prostitutes had clearly established hierarchy according to claims and money available the client had. Most of the “low case” were called pornai working under the supervision of a pimp, which gaved only a part of the money earned. Usually they were slaves or abandoned girls, rejected by family.
The next step were prostitutes working on their own, who were required to pay a fee to local authorities in the working city . Often, they found their clients among men they were dancing for or singing at private parties.
At the top of the social hierarchy of this profession were hetaires, who had a status similar to famous geisha in Japan. They were very educated and sometimes even had their own business. The most famous prostitute in this category is Aspasia, mistress of Pericles, who was often seen in the company of Socrates, Phidias or Sophocles too.
Interestingly, in the brothels of ancient greece among loyal customers, were women too, usually older, who came to enjoy the charms of boys who worked there. Contemporary documents have recorded even complaints from a woman customer dissatisfied of the services received.
However, most clients were men, homosexual acts between an adult and a teenager was considered something natural in greek culture.
A similar way of organization and control of prostitution occurs also in ancient Rome. There were large brothels called lupanare, especially in Pompeii, where were kept inscriptions and frescoes of erotic scenes.
While roman men had the right to call prostitutes of either sex to satisfy their fantasies, those who practiced this profession were slaves or infamous, which means free people, but who do not enjoy the rights granted to roman citizens.
In Islam, prostitution is prohibited and considered a great sin. However, rich men had the right to buy as many women wanted for their harem, also could sell the slaves or concubines.
In Asia also there are mentions about courtesans, serving different types of customers. Some of them were educated and knew how to sing and dance, their main role was to entertain men at parties, like geishas. Sex was not included in the contract, although often reached this kind of relationship. In Japan they were called oiran and in South Asia tawaif.
“Sin” seen with indulgence by christian Europe and Islam
Christianity officially banned prostitution, but this job was tacitly tolerated and considered a necessary evil. Thus, the girls from very poor families often ended up in brothels, sold right by their parents. Were frequently encountered with military garrisons, which accompanied even on the battlefield.
Prostitutes were required to wear special dresses, and brothels could work only on certain streets, specially marked. Priests or married men were not allowed to visit these places.
During the Renaissance emerged new regulations of this job. Governments set the fees, prices and were trying to control venereal disease, forcing prostitutes to regular health checks .
In the sixteenth century, official brothels in Europe were closed after a devastating epidemic of syphilis, which was then a deadly disease, but this measure has not solved the problem, banished women from brothels continued to practice their profession on the street.
Although Islam prohibits any form of prostitution, ottoman documents from the eighteenth century mentions that massage therapists working in the turkish baths, usually teenagers, which helps customers to wash, gave them different sexual serviciii on request.
There were even claims about the fees required, personal data about boys, plus sexual practices offered to customers and the success enjoyed by each employee.
Famous courtesans
Besides the women who were selling their bodies on the street or in brothels, there was always a selected category of prostitutes, courtesans. They were educated and usually very rich. One worth mentioning example is Rhopopis, a prostitute in ancient Egypt. The greek historian Herodotus wrote about her that she was so rich that she built her own pyramid, paying the construction from the money she earned with her job.
In Rome courtesans had a great influence also. They gave tone on fashion, hairstyles and jewelery, considered by married women a model of elegance and refinement.
Like hetaires in greece, courtesans have occupied an important role also in Islamic culture, many love poems being dedicated for them. They didn’t only provided sexual services, but also quality entertainment. A similar role was played by the geishas of Japan.
Whatever wealth they gathered and the luxurious life they led, courtesans wanted to escape this job through marriage. Only this way could become respectable women , without being considered inferior because of their profession. Some have succeeded, others not.
The lucky one is Thais of Athens, who was mistress of Alexander Macedon and then wife of his general, Ptolemy, who later became king of Egypt, founder of the Ptolemaic dynasty.
This is not the only example. Theodora, wife of byzantine emperor Justinian was in the past a prostitute in a brothel in Constantinople, for customers with modest incomes, along with her sister.
Then she became an actress and has attracted the attention of Justinian, who was then heir to the throne of Byzantium.
In order to marry his chosen, Justinian repealed a law prohibiting the marriage of noble men with prostitutes.
Becoming empress, Theodora gave laws by which women had the right to property and built shelters for prostitutes who wanted to quit the profession.
An illegal industry with an annual turnover of 32 billion dollars
Currently , prostitution is viewed very differently by the governments of the world , some countries are very lax , while others chastise practicing this activity. Prostitution is legal in Canada and several countries in Europe, the most famous B such the Netherlands (since 2000) and Belgium , and Germany (since 2002).
Here , women working in the sex industry have a union of their pay and benefits medical insurance and unemployment . Moreover, prostitutes in Germany are entitled to sign a special contract by which they are entitled to choose their own customers and the services they will provide for them.
On the other hand there are countries who take radical measures to try to combat the phenomenon . Sweden, Norway , Iceland , and France and Scotland have adopted the ” Nordic model ” , which criminalizes clients , even risking their six months in prison. At the same time, the law in these countries consider the prostitutes victims of crime .
Between the two extremes , somewhere in the middle is the law of most European countries, including Hungary and Romania , where prostitution is legal, but tolerated . Pimping is punishable by law, but not clients who use these sexual services .
Beyond these legal regulations , there is a whole industry of human trafficking for forced labor or sexual exploitation .
According to the U.S. government in 2013 were globally more than 27 million victims of this illegal industry , which has an annual turnover estimated at 32 billion dollars , making it the 2nd, after drug trafficking industry .
In 2011 , Human Rights estimated that a victim of this industry annual costs only 1,895 dollars, while profit you make is over 29,000 dollars.
Stone Cross and house of intolerance of interwar Bucharest
Romania has gone through many changes in the law aimed at prostitution . In the interwar period , in Bucharest, the more legal brothels , the most famous being the bad neighborhood of Stone Cross . These brothels were controlled , paying taxes, and the girls were required to do a medical check periodically to prevent sexually transmitted diseases .
Escorts educated, with prices quite high , but there were not only here but also in cabarets Chat Noir or the Moulin Rouge, but also in selected hotel restaurants of Bucharest, Lido Ambassador or Boulevard .
Some historians , including Adrian Majuru speak of famous men who often resorted to the services of these women consuming .
Among them was one even King Carol II, known from his reign to his weakness against women . King would have frequented prostitutes Street Orlando is where passed away at certain times , being known girls who worked in the area.