Erotic Paintings
Analysis of the artefact:
These paintings are just a selection of the vast paintings that have been found in Pompeii during its excavations, that give us a detailed look into the Roman's attitude to sex, which can then be compared to the modern attitudes held especially since the emergence of Christianity. A large majority of the paintings were found in the Baths, and are the paintings that have been the best preserved compared to ones found in the ancient brothel of Pompeii. Pompeii was the city where most of Rome's elite visited, and so it was only natural that prostitution was a common occurrence. The paintings found in the Baths, and the painting on the right, is an example of the sort of painting that would be used as advertisement. The prostitute's specialty would be portrayed in the picture, and the customer would follow this picture to go to the prostitute they choose. However, there were not only erotic paintings in Pompeii - ordinary household objects were found that conveyed a sexual theme, and it was considered 'proper' to have sexually related objects in your house. What was different about these paintings was that they showed different types of sex, such as group sex (as seen in the painting above), homosexual sex, and oral sex. In particular, it was normal and accepted in society for both men and women to have sex with someone of the same gender. Another common image seen in these paintings is that of the phallus. In Pompeii, the phallus was revered and so it was seen everywhere in Pompeii - in paintings, sculptures, on the streets, and on household objects. However, compared to today's society, a small phallus was considered better than a larger phallus, so it was for this reason that large phallus' were used for comic purposes in paintings. These pictures, while considered as forms of pornography today, were in Ancient Rome seen to show one of the pleasures of life. Sex was a purely acceptable act to undertake and was openly talked about, so Ancient Romans felt it perfectly natural to have pictures of it as it shows that to them sex was a purely humorous and pleasurable act.
These paintings are just a selection of the vast paintings that have been found in Pompeii during its excavations, that give us a detailed look into the Roman's attitude to sex, which can then be compared to the modern attitudes held especially since the emergence of Christianity. A large majority of the paintings were found in the Baths, and are the paintings that have been the best preserved compared to ones found in the ancient brothel of Pompeii. Pompeii was the city where most of Rome's elite visited, and so it was only natural that prostitution was a common occurrence. The paintings found in the Baths, and the painting on the right, is an example of the sort of painting that would be used as advertisement. The prostitute's specialty would be portrayed in the picture, and the customer would follow this picture to go to the prostitute they choose. However, there were not only erotic paintings in Pompeii - ordinary household objects were found that conveyed a sexual theme, and it was considered 'proper' to have sexually related objects in your house. What was different about these paintings was that they showed different types of sex, such as group sex (as seen in the painting above), homosexual sex, and oral sex. In particular, it was normal and accepted in society for both men and women to have sex with someone of the same gender. Another common image seen in these paintings is that of the phallus. In Pompeii, the phallus was revered and so it was seen everywhere in Pompeii - in paintings, sculptures, on the streets, and on household objects. However, compared to today's society, a small phallus was considered better than a larger phallus, so it was for this reason that large phallus' were used for comic purposes in paintings. These pictures, while considered as forms of pornography today, were in Ancient Rome seen to show one of the pleasures of life. Sex was a purely acceptable act to undertake and was openly talked about, so Ancient Romans felt it perfectly natural to have pictures of it as it shows that to them sex was a purely humorous and pleasurable act.
Developed Conclusions:
These paintings are unique to our understanding of Roman social life because paintings of this type have not been found from other ancient sites, so these are the only paintings that remain that can give us an idea of what the Roman's attitude to sex was. These paintings can then contribute to comparing what modern society feels about sex and sexual acts, which compared to the Romans is a very frigid and closed view. The vast quantities of erotic paintings found in Pompeii show us that Romans had a very liberal view in regards to sex, something that contrasts greatly to modern society. Since the emergence of Christianity, the idea of "sin" emerged with it also and so as a result, any erotic pictures that remained in other countries that Christianity dominated were swiftly dealt with, or were otherwise destroyed throughout the years that followed. In Ancient Rome, there was no idea of sin as sex was seen as a pleasurable act, thus the paintings that were preserved during the eruption show us that the Romans truly did see sex as something to be celebrated. These paintings are also unique because it gives an idea of how society has changed since the Ancient Roman period. Paintings of homosexual intercourse were prevalent in Rome because homosexuality was accepted, however today homosexuality is a societal issue and there are millions of people opposed to it. As well as this, paintings and sculptures of this type were so common that it was never seen as sinful but today people who see the paintings are shocked at the explicit images. This is because we have different opinions on sex and erotica, and so these paintings have proven to be unique because they give the chance to see what Ancient Roman's opinions on sex were.
These paintings are unique to our understanding of Roman social life because paintings of this type have not been found from other ancient sites, so these are the only paintings that remain that can give us an idea of what the Roman's attitude to sex was. These paintings can then contribute to comparing what modern society feels about sex and sexual acts, which compared to the Romans is a very frigid and closed view. The vast quantities of erotic paintings found in Pompeii show us that Romans had a very liberal view in regards to sex, something that contrasts greatly to modern society. Since the emergence of Christianity, the idea of "sin" emerged with it also and so as a result, any erotic pictures that remained in other countries that Christianity dominated were swiftly dealt with, or were otherwise destroyed throughout the years that followed. In Ancient Rome, there was no idea of sin as sex was seen as a pleasurable act, thus the paintings that were preserved during the eruption show us that the Romans truly did see sex as something to be celebrated. These paintings are also unique because it gives an idea of how society has changed since the Ancient Roman period. Paintings of homosexual intercourse were prevalent in Rome because homosexuality was accepted, however today homosexuality is a societal issue and there are millions of people opposed to it. As well as this, paintings and sculptures of this type were so common that it was never seen as sinful but today people who see the paintings are shocked at the explicit images. This is because we have different opinions on sex and erotica, and so these paintings have proven to be unique because they give the chance to see what Ancient Roman's opinions on sex were.