Types of Prostitutes in Ancient Rome: A Complete Guide

In ancient Rome, prostitution was a widespread and regulated practice, reflecting the different social classes and contexts in which these women operated.
Let's find out the main types of prostitutes and their characteristics.

The prostitutes

Le prostitutes they were prostitutes officially registered, who carried out their activities legally and under the supervision of the Roman authorities.
They had to register in a special register, even paying a tax for permission to work. This category included both low-ranking women and higher-ranking women who could attract a wealthier clientele.

Main characteristics of the prostitutes:

• Mandatory registration with censors.
• They operated in designated locations, such as the brothels or private spaces.
• Recognizable by their special clothing and explicit behaviors.

The ambulatae

Le ambulatory, often also called “street prostitutes”, were women who they were walking through the city looking for customers. Their name comes from the Latin verb ambular, meaning “to walk”. They were particularly common in alleys, porticos and near crowded places such as baths and markets.

Distinctive features of the ambulatae:

• They attracted customers as they moved around the city.
• They frequented public and crowded areas.
• Provocative clothing and attitude to get noticed.

The delicate ones

Le delicate represented the highest level of Roman prostitution. They were cultured, refined women, often supported by rich men. These courtesans participated in aristocratic banquets and they could also offer cultural entertainment, thanks to their education.

Characteristics of the delicatae:

• Exclusive services for a clientele elite.
• Higher education and the ability to engage in cultured conversation.
• Presence in refined and wealthy environments.

The she-wolves or brothels

Le lupae They were prostitutes who worked in the brothels, the brothels of the time. The term “lupa” (literally “wolf”) was often used to indicate the women who worked in these environments. These were the more accessible prostitutes, with cheap services and often linked to exploitative conditions.

Distinctive elements of the lupae:

• They mainly practiced in official brothels.
• Affordable prices for a popular clientele.
• Frequent conditions of exploitation by managers.

The prostitutes

Le prostitutes they were prostitutes not registered, who worked illegally. They operated in a more clandestine manner than the meretrices and were often in marginalized conditions. This category included many slaves forced to prostitute themselves for their masters.

Characteristics of prostibulae:

• Lack of registration with censors.
• They operated in secluded or hidden places.
• They were often women in situations of extreme poverty.

The escorts

Le buffer stock They were prostitutes who frequented public places such as theaters and spas. They were recognizable by their clothing and provocative gestures. Unlike the ambulatae, these women tended to stand in strategic places, attracting the attention of passers-by.

Main points of the escort:

• They frequented crowded and recreational places.
• Famous for their provocative gestures and clothes.
• They stood out for their fixed presence in specific areas.

The friends

Le friend They were not professional prostitutes, but women who engaged in sexual relations in exchange for gifts or favors. They could be supported by wealthy men and were not always seen as prostitutes in the strict sense of the term.

Main characteristics of the amicae:

• Casual or informal relationships.
• Maintained by upper-class men.
• Considered more like courtesans than prostitutes.

The copae

Le copae They were innkeepers or waitresses in taverns who, in addition to serving food and drink, sometimes also offered sexual services. They operated in popular environments, where they attracted customers through their presence in the premises.

Details on the copae:

• Combined activity between tavern management and prostitution.
• They frequented noisy and crowded environments.
• Clientele mainly composed of plebeian men.

The forariae

Le forariae they were prostitutes who practiced outside the city walls, often along main roads or near rural markets. They were known to attract travellers and those commuting between cities.

Characteristics of the forariae:

• They operated along the routes of communication.
• Clientele made up of travellers and traders.
• Often in situations of extreme marginality.