Revisiting “Moral Zoning” in Pompeii: The Case of Pompeii’s Purpose-Built Brothel

Pompeii’s purpose-built brothel is the only structure that meets all scholarly criteria for identifying an ancient Roman brothel. The focus on the structure’s uniqueness, however, has obscured similarities with other buildings at Pompeii and elsewhere. This talk re-examines the material evidence from the brothel, showing how the structure—and prostitution—was fairly seamlessly integrated into the residential and commercial fabric of the city. This, in turn, affects how we think of “moral zoning” and the visibility of prostitution at Pompeii.