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Not sure what there is to decode. People created and exhibited erotica then for pretty much the same reasons they do today.
> People created and exhibited erotica then for pretty much the same reasons they do today.

That description sounds overly simplistic to me. The mode of life and condition of things was very different. I assume the role and power of women in Roman society would be substantially different than it is today. It is not unreasonable to think it might be for completely different reasons. For example, in most parts of the world 200 years ago, a woman being topless would not be sexualized but it is today. If I'm not mistaken there's temples in Asia where there are sexual scenes depicted in sculpture form, and it is entirely plausible that people would not think of that as 'erotica' whereas the same modern population around those temples today would be very likely to have a completely different viewpoint if those sculptures were made today.

Oh man. Stop overly romanticizing the past. People are, were, and will be people.

> For example, in most parts of the world 200 years ago, a woman being topless would not be sexualized but it is today.

Where? Not everywhere. You should look at all the differences in different places today before you generalize the Past as one monolithic place.

> Stop overly romanticizing the past. People are, were, and will be people.

I'm not sure where I was "romanticizing the past" in my comment. Could you clarify exactly? Are you referring to the sentence I wrote "in most parts of the world 200 years ago, a woman being topless would not be sexualized but it is today"? But that is a factual observation right.

> Where? Not everywhere.

I'm not sure what you're trying to ask. It is very difficult to communicate with this kind of tone. I'm sure you can follow what I meant by "in most parts of the world 200 years ago, a woman being topless would not be sexualized but it is today." because we can see that in many parts of the world where old photos show the population being topless, now the majority of the population in those same parts are no longer accepting of that.

> before you generalize the Past as one monolithic place.

Reading my comment, I stand by my position that I never did that. I'm genuinely confused what you're trying to say.

> I'm not sure where I was "romanticizing the past" in my comment. Could you clarify exactly?

That people were more civilized or more “noble” or more free in the Past.

> That people were more civilized or more “noble” or more free in the Past.

Could you cite where I said or even remotely implied that broad a statement?

Well, stop being overly dismissive. The past might have been less different than we think it is, but it is possible if not plausible that the society, on average, was much different than ours.

Most of culture is dictated by religion, which certainly have changed over the centuries, and Christianity as a whole has "conquered" and made many cultures somewhat homogeneous, especially on the sexual and sensual side.

People have been horny since ever. Simply having exposed breasts might not be universally considered 'erotica' but representations of people actually having sex? Nah that's pron.
> representations of people actually having sex? Nah that's pron.

Not every culture is the same. Maybe your culture perceives that as taboo and therefore erotica. Perhaps a hunter gatherer society would not even think people having sex in front of them as taboo or erotic. Who knows? We're stuck so deep in our culture that we can't perceive it any other way. Our brains get wired that way due to our culture and upbringing and there is a loss of plasticity after that. The point I'm making is that it is overly simplistic to make assumptions of what is and is not erotic to an ancient culture separated by 2000 years.

Ehhh this is pompeii we’re talking about though

Isn’t this the place with the graffiti that was very similar to what we find in a bathroom stall today? All very horny very relatable stuff

”I screwed the barmaid”

”Weep, you girls. My penis has given you up. Now it penetrates men's behinds. Goodbye, wondrous femininity!”

Its a resort town with horny people and brothels, I really don't think its that deep. Someone just wants to study ancient porn and write erotic fanfiction.

https://kashgar.com.au/blogs/history/the-bawdy-graffiti-of-p...

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/reading-the-writing-o...

I'm unsure what you're trying to communicate. Are you saying that Pompeii and its culture was the exact equivalent of some sex tourist town in the modern day?
I’m saying its not that deep and something akin to yes, very relatable.

Simply unlikely there is much insight to glean, doing this “decode” would only serve for a very sheltered and sexually repressed current population or future population.

Its mostly likely it is just erotic and porn to entice visitors. If that news is news, then thats what the exhibition is for.

Erotica isn't a synonym for taboo, it's anything arousing. I guarantee you no matter how well accepted public sex is in your putative hunter gatherer society, some onlookers are going to get a bit hot and bothered. We're not talking a visible nipple here, we're talking actual coitus or explicit depictions thereof, and if you're refusing to consider that to be erotica then what does the word even mean to you?
> if you're refusing to consider that to be erotica then what does the word even mean to you?

I'm not sure why you're on a tangent that is unrelated to what I was talking about. I was referring to the claim that what a culture 2000 years ago considered to be erotica may be completely different to what you consider to be erotica today. Do you disagree that there could be any differences? I've already pointed out that your upbringing and culture is what determines what you think is erotica. For you, the back of a woman's neck is not erotica, for a Japanese person it may be. Do you follow?

People also created and consumed food for pretty much the same reasons.

Historical analysis and consideration of past culinary preparations is still very useful as an endeavor.