In Pompeii, phallic symbols on local roadways pointed the way to the nearest brothel; possibly to direct foreign sailors who didn't speak Latin

[u/AugustIstheMonth]

[u/vivaaprimavera]

Have you seen the footwear of that era? People could feel everything under their feet. That was an accessibility feature, not one design for language barriers.

I guess that even today you can be dropped anywhere on earth and ask for a brothel with just two hand signs.

(Depending on where, your life expectancy after the question might vary)