Beyond the brothels: Reimagining the overlooked lives of Pompeii's enslaved women
This video explores the historical reality of the Lupanar, Pompeii's infamous brothel. Through the lens of Elodie Harper's historical fiction, we examine the survival, resourcefulness, and hidden agency of women living in the shadows of Roman society.
The presentation focuses on the narrative of Amara, a woman forced into slavery in Pompeii's Lupanar following her father's death and her family's descent into poverty. While her status as a slave is defined by her owner, the video highlights her sharp intelligence and her ability to navigate the city's complex social landscape.
It delves into the daily lives of the women in the brothel, looking at how they found community and sought opportunities for a reversal in fortune within the streets of Pompeii. The discussion examines the cost of freedom in a world where everything has a price.
Source: The Wolf Den: Pompeii's Brothels, with Elodie Harper
