Tag: brothel economics

The Real Economics of Brothels in Ancient Near Eastern Cities: Tax, Status, and Regulation

The Real Economics of Brothels in Ancient Near Eastern Cities: Tax, Status, and Regulation

Feb 1 2026 / History & Culture

Contrary to popular belief, ancient Near Eastern cities like Uruk and Babylon had no state-regulated brothels, temple prostitutes, or taxes on sex work. Evidence from cuneiform texts shows sexual commerce, if it occurred, was informal and unrecorded.

VIEW MORE