It’s often said but is it true. Is prostitution the oldest profession. I reckon yeah nah.
Wikipedia tells us that dating back to ca. 2400 BCE (before Christian era i.e 1 year before Jesus was born) from Sumaria are the earliest recorded mentions of prostitution as an occupation. (The Sumerian civilization developed in southern Mesopotamia, a region in the Fertile Crescent between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, which now forms part of modern-day southern Iraq.)
Problem for prostitution being that at that time Sumaria was a beacon of advanced civilisation including architecture and agriculture. So maybe Sumarian architects’ and farmers, not to forget butchers bakers and candlestick makers might dispute the oldest profession proposition.
Interestingly however the early historical records describe a temple brothel operated by Sumerian priests in the city of Uruk. This kakum, or temple, was dedicated to the goddess Ishtar and was home to three classes of women. The first class of women was only permitted to perform sexual rituals in the temple: the second class had access to the grounds and catered to visitors; and the third and lowest class lived on the temple grounds. The third class was also free to find customers on the streets.
Isn’t it funny how times have changed and yet times have not changed with grand establishments such as Langtrees VIP Bordello housing beautiful working girls in near absolute safety whilst others less fortunate work the dangerous streets.
Historical records also show that sacred prostitution and similar classifications for females were known to have existed in Greece, Rome, India, China, and Japan. Let’s not forget the boys. Male prostitution is referred to in the region of Canaan which is modern day Isreal where a significant portion of temple prostitutes were male. Male prostitution was also widely practiced in Sardina Italy and in some of the Phoenician cultures now Lebanon and Syria as well as Greece. It must have really been something in Greece as the sexual act of sodomy is known in certain circles as Greek. The French got the kiss the Greeks got the …don’t bother…
Records show then that almost all cultures and civilisations allowed prostitution from the Incas and Aztecs to the Greeks, and the Romans with Caligula the first Roman Emperor to tax prostitution. In early India courtesans were a feature of the courts of the nobility and geishas in Japan fulfilled similar roles in that early culture. Even in China economic pressure forced poor families into offering their young women into prostitution. Poverty also featured as a job requirement for prostitutes in early Europe.
In war certain armies including the Germans and the Japanese famously had comfort-women follow the troops. However, that practice was coercive and therefore abduction and rape does not make prostitution.
As modern north America and even Australia became populated prostitution followed where groups of men deprived of female company gathered in busy ports and in mining camps which then attracted the entrepreneurial working girl. From the 1950’s to current times the industry of sex tourism focused on Asian and African nations drew cashed up sex hungry men in from western society – hello Thailand.
So although we respectfully conclude that prostitution might not be the oldest profession it was present through the centuries and was the source of notoriety and fame for some of its notable participants.
Listorati.com list the Top Ten famous prostitutes over recorded time.
Memorable Mentions
Any list of ten famous prostitutes is entirely subjective. For example, Mary Magdalene the friend and some say possibly the wife of Jesus was described as an ex-prostitute in the bible from whom Jesus cast out seven demons. Mary famously dried Jesus’ tears and washed his feet at the crucifixion.
Martha Jane Canary 1852 to 1903 also known as Calamity Jane was a prostitute in the old west. Calamity was also a frontiers woman and sharpshooter described by some perhaps cruelly as masculine in appearance. Her occasional work as a prostitute was at the Fort Laramie Three-Mile Hog Ranch…now there’s a name for a brothel!
And more recently, as in the 20th century, Alice Keppel, the great grand-mother of Queen Camilla's (oh the irony) was the famous mistress of King Edward VII of the United Kingdom (who reigned from 1901 to 1910). She was one of his most notable and long-standing lovers, and she remained part of his social circle until his death. Interestingly, history came full circle when Camilla (née Camilla Shand) became involved with Charles, Prince of Wales (now King Charles III). The parallels between Camilla and her ancestor Alice Keppel have often been noted in the media!
To conclude, although perhaps not quite the oldest, Prostitution remains an integral part of all societies, and we suggest will do as long as men desire woman.
Author: Magnum
For: Langtrees.com
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“The idea of prostitution dates back to ever since men and women existed. It is different in different countries. For India, A tawaif was a courtesan who catered to the nobility of India, particularly during the Mughal era. The tawaifs excelled in and contributed to music, dance (mujra), theatre, and the Urdu literary tradition, and were considered authorities on etiquette. Tawaifs were largely a North Indian institution central to Mughal court culture from the 16th century onwards and became even more prominent with the weakening of Mughal rule in the mid-18th century. Prostitution never was a managed properly here thus making it worse but then again - this is how it operates in India ”
“It is intriguing to discover that prostitution has a long history and has been practiced for centuries. I was previously unaware of the biblical references associated with this topic. I appreciate the insights provided by Langtrees.com in bringing these truths to light.”
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