Histoire de la prostitution chez tous les peuples du monde depuis l'antiquité la plus reculée jusqu'à nos jours, tome 2/6

A sweeping study that traces the ever‑changing role of prostitution from the earliest civilizations to modern times, this volume turns a scholarly lens on the social, legal and economic forces that have shaped the trade. The author weaves together surviving statutes, literary references and archaeological evidence, while the accompanying steel‑engraved plates give a vivid visual context to the narratives. Readers are invited to see how each culture’s attitudes toward sex work were reflected in language, architecture and public policy.

The opening chapters focus on ancient Rome, mapping out the city’s extensive network of lupanars, baths and taverns that catered to both resident and itinerant courtesans. Detailed descriptions reveal the hierarchy of venues, the specialized staff who ran them, and the elaborate rituals surrounding a woman’s first offering of herself. By combining meticulous research with lively storytelling, the book brings a complex and often hidden facet of Roman life into clear view.