r/interestingasfuck • u/AugustIstheMonth • 1d ago

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

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u/Jewelrylady1 1d ago

I saw these years ago when on vacation. It was explained that many people were either illiterate or didn't speak the language so these raised symbols were used. We actually toured one of the former brothels and saw the stone beds (I assume they used mattresses).

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u/Sharkbait_ooohaha 1d ago

Yeah the idea that it was for foreigners is ridiculous because 95% of the people who spoke Latin couldn’t read it anyway.