prostitution: Early History

	Site Map \| FAQ in Daily Almanac for Dec 9, 2009 Search White Pages
Skip Navigation Home Winter Holidays Atlas Encyclopedia Dictionary Thesaurus Features Quizzes Timelines Countries Slideshows

Fact Monster Kid's reference,
games, quizzes

Editor's Favorites

Encyclopedia—prostitution

Early History

In ancient times and in some primitive societies, prostitution often had religious connotations—sexual intercourse with temple maidens was an act of worship to the temple deity. In Greece the hetaerae [Gr.,=companions or associates] were often women of high social status, but in Rome the meretrices were on a low social level and were forced to wear wigs and special garments signifying their trade. In the Middle Ages prostitution flourished, and licensed brothels were a source of revenue to municipalities.

Sections in this article:

Premium Partner Content

Related content from HighBeam Research on: prostitution: Early History

Prostitution and the origins of the governmental regulatory system in nineteenth-century Spain: the plans of the Trienio Liberal, 1820-1823.(Essay) (Journal of the History of Sexuality)

Prostitution, Polygamy, and Power: Salt Lake City, 1847-1918 (Montana; The Magazine of Western History)

Pathways to Prostitution: The Chronology of Sexual and Drug Abuse Milestones. (The Journal of Sex Research)

Backlash against prostitutes' rights: origins and dynamics of Nazi prostitution policies. (Journal of the History of Sexuality)

Dangerous Pleasures: Prostitution and Modernity in Twentieth-Century Shanghai. (book reviews) (History: Review of New Books)

Raelene Frances, Selling Sex: A Hidden History of Prostitution.(Book review) (Labour History - A Journal of Labour and Social History)

Prostitution: a community solution alternative.(CT Feature) (Corrections Today)

Anti-prostitution zones: justifications for abolition.(Florida) (Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology)

Prostitution and Irish Society, 1800-1940.(Book review) (Canadian Journal of History)

Green light for red light districts? Peter Jones, David Hillier, Peter Shears, and Daphne Comfort look at the problems associated with street prostitution and the arguments for and against the establishment of formally delimited prostitution 'tolerance zones'.(sex and the city) (Town and Country Planning)

Infoplease Tools