A strong response is produced whenever prostitution or the world’s oldest profession as some may know it is mentioned. Is it true that prostitution is indeed the world’s oldest profession? Although it is most probably a myth, the history behind the present idea of prostitution and that of the old age is quite interesting. This can only be true if we look at it from the modern-day point of view and modern-day ideas of money. You may be enticed by the answers to questions about the age of prostitution, but you should also be aware that they are also complicated. By reading this detailed article, you will learn about the inception of prostitution as a profession and how it has made it to this generation.
Prostitution is first mentioned in ancient written Sumerian records that date back to 2400BCE, and it is recorded as a potential profession for women in that time. In ancient Mesopotamia however, there was a spiritual and religious element to this profession. There is evidence that hints that women did it as a part of a ritual. According to a Greek historian named Herodotus, women would wait at the doors of a temple and agree to have sex with any man who agreed to enter. After the task, the men would offer some money to the women who would then donate it to the temple. Some scholars have however debated about this topic of sacred prostitution. This is because the historian is not quite a reliable source. It, however, goes back to the primary idea that sex and sexuality were sacred and celebrated by that part in that age. Fertility, which was highly valued, was also linked with this. Sex was believed top release holy and fertile energy according to historians.
Prostitution is mainly viewed negatively because of Christianity even though there are a number of valid points from both sides. Christianity brought with it ideas of chastity which created the taboo that the act of sex fell victim to. The profession of prostitution has become stigmatized with time as these ideologies spread. In the bible, there is a specific reference to the “Woman of Babylon who is a representation of the ungodliness and illegitimacy associated with the Roman empire. In the bible, sex is viewed as something for married couples only. In medieval Europe however, brothels were a common thing. Prostitution was only regulated and restricted to specific parts of the city. Wives were not totally against the idea of prostitution at this time since it gave them the ability to say no to their husbands and send them elsewhere. The Catholic church maintained policies for prostitution at that period since it was the core of the government.