Archaeo Histories氏による、古代ローマの売春宿のトークン（代替貨幣）について

Archaeo - Histories @archeohistories

There were many brothels in ancient Rome, but standard Roman coins, Serters and Denars, were not used and were even banned from being there. Store-bought Tokens were used for Denar and Serters and images on them were often obscene. Reason is understandable, because on all Roman coins there was a head image of emperor of that period. Even picture of emperor entering the brothel was synonymous with humiliating and cursing him. Of course, punishment was severe. In resorts like Herculaneum and Pompeii, brothels were much busier places. Over time, such places encouraged their customers to use their own currency, called spintriae in Middle Ages. Prevalence of prostitution in Roman culture can be inferred from concentration of this coin in circulation and abundance of examples at these resorts in southern Italy already mentioned. This was a fairly common phenomenon for those dealing with day-to-day money in brothel coins in Rome. On the obverse and reverse of coins were various sexual images, often depicting people making love. One of theories regarding the purpose of these coins was to advertise price of sexual activities. Moreover, the transfer of this money between two people (the buyer and the “seller”) created a certain privacy. This was especially useful for high-status people to hide what kind of work they did at night. According to some experts, price of event was written on back of pictures of these coins. It was a system that helped break down language barriers. If this theory is correct, it means that these coins are more of an ordering tool than a form of payment. For example, when you say "I want number 4" at McDonalds, the corresponding money is given. A Roman brothel coin found in London in 2012 was under investigation. As it is known, Romans set up tents and camps in Ancient Britain. This strengthens the theory that coins in question were used as a tool to cross language boundaries. In Britain the spread of language was even slower, but these coins served to universalize language. #archaeohistories

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RedInDC 💐 @RealRedInDC

@bluewater1029 @archeohistories @OscarVReuenthal My Ancient Roman history professor did. 🤣 We even talked about how the brothel in Pompeii had pictures over the doors to denote the activity of the room. 🤣

moodx.eth @moodxx

@archeohistories It's a testament to the importance of discretion and privacy in transactions, even in ancient times. The idea that these coins may have served as a way to advertise the price of certain activities while breaking down language barriers is a thought-provoking theory,..

Chrssssz @ChrissyWatch

@archeohistories The theory that these tokens were used to break language barriers makes no sense. Foreign sex workers wouldn't need more than a few weeks to learn the basics & the depiction of a specifical sexual position can't be interpreted as if the client would only want to perform that one

Ligures Ambrones @liguresambrones

@archeohistories there are also in Pompeii, Rome etc, no mystery, they were the tokens with which prostitutes were paid in legal brothels, that is, the customer gave real money to the Madam and in exchange obtained the "porn" token (as proof of payment, like in arcades) to use with the prostitute

Jerobi @rumrunners_010

@archeohistories There are many brothel in ancient Roma pic.twitter.com/HOJqTIHTi0

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Cermenio @cermeniote

@archeohistories I believe that it makes more sense that these coins were used by the pimps to prevent the sex workers to keep the direct payment for their services; i.e. the customers pays to the pimp and gets a token in exchange that he uses with the sex worker.

Cleisthenes @Kliesthenes

@archeohistories So how's a sex worker going to buy a baguette with one of these if the idea was to keep their evening occupation on the downlow... Somehow these would have to exit the industry and be used in everyday commerce, or just collect in a jar in a brothel.

David Healey @DavidHe35545235

@archeohistories Understand same went for a visit to the Roman Latrina, again coins were exchanged for tokens.

Макс Янков @GolerGkA

@archeohistories > Reason is understandable, because on all Roman coins there was a head image of emperor of that period. I'm pretty sure it's not the real reason. Different exchange rates for clients and personnel makes much more sense, this way owner's profits are secure.