Manlig prostitution i Pompeji : En studie av erotisk graffiti

Sammanfattning: This study looks at graffiti in Pompeii that seems to indicate male prostitution, to find out whether this activity occurred in antiquity and whether it was meant for both men and women. The hypothesis, which formed the basis of this study, was that male prostitution was just as common as female prostitution in the city of Pompeii. The information that has been relevant to this study is the one which helps us understand the Roman sexuality and sexual morality, Roman sense of humour and their opinions on prostitutes. To get an answer, both primary and secondary sources that deal with these various subjects have been studied and analysed. The information provided and the discussion of them have been divided thematically, where the first part deals with graffiti that indicates prostitution. The graffiti that mentions male prostitution is compared with the graffiti announcing female prostitution as a means to analyse it. Ancient texts that talk about submissive men are also discussed and analysed. Information about infamia and what effect it has on prostitutes in society follows in the next section, a discussion and analysis about the graffiti that appear to be insults is also to be found. Finally, we have informative texts about the Roman sense of humour, examples of this humour both in ancient texts and graffiti are discussed and analysed. All discussion and analysis have then come to confirm my hypothesis. Male prostitution was just as common during antiquity as female prostitution in the city of Pompeii, it was also meant for both women and men. Graffiti that suggests male and female prostitution does not differ significantly; ancient texts also mention women who take part in these sexual services. Graffiti that mentions male names together with a sexual service and a price are the ones we can state verifies male prostitution. Similar graffiti that excludes a prize is most likely an insult or a joke between two Romans. Further studies are required to be able to discuss and analyse the names that arise in the graffiti mentioning male prostitution.