The House of Tolerance is what? Why is the House of Tolerance so called

In the modern world, it is not often found such a phrase as a "home of tolerance." This is the term that was once very common in Europe and even in tsarist Russia. But over time, the phrase completely came out of everyday life and now occurs only in literature or feature films. So still, the house of tolerance is what?

Term meaning

If you carefully scroll through the dictionaries, you can find a definition that sheds light on the phrase "home of tolerance." This term describes the place where women of easy virtue are. They earn a living by selling their own body, that is, prostitution.

House of Tolerance: Synonyms

In the whole history of the existence of the ancient profession, which is prostitution, many synonyms of the name of establishments where women sell themselves are invented. The most common and famous of them is a brothel, a brothel and a home of tolerance. However, even in the ancient world there were institutions with their unusual names, where men could spend their free time with cheerful and beautiful girls.

A little from the history of the question

It is not known when women of easy virtue first appeared, but most likely they are an invariable attribute of the development of human civilization. Even in Egypt, Ancient Greece and Mesopotamia, prostitution was a famous occupation, to which society was very tolerant. For many ancient civilizations, the brothel was absolutely natural phenomenon, besides, even tsars and emperors did not shy away from using the services of corrupt women, who were often one of the most educated people in the state.

For example, during the excavation of Pompeii, there were discovered the ruins of a lupanarium - a brothel, where to know the cities met with beauties. It is worth noting that the name of the institution originated from the Latin word, which can be translated as "harlot". It is known that the Romans appreciated women who could not only indulge men in bed, but also entertain with conversation. Typically, these ladies were successful and financially sound, since they had one or two rich patrons. An interesting fact is that in Ancient Rome any woman who claimed to be a magistrate could become a prostitute. She received a special permission to work and had to wear yellow clothes with red shoes. There are cases when even the wives of emperors worked at night as priestesses of love.

In the Middle Ages, the notion of a "cheap brothel" was more widely spread, where girls who had no other way to earn a living worked for pennies. The priests actively tried to get rid of prostitution as a phenomenon and sought to completely clean the cities of harlots, but they could not eradicate brothels. Especially they blossomed in the land of love - France.

French brothels

I would like to clarify that not so long ago in Europe appeared the phrase "home of tolerance." The definition (although it has a slightly different sound with an identical semantic load) arose during the Great French Revolution, when the world outlook of society and its relation to the norms of morals were actively changing. In the eighteenth century, in connection with revolutionary ideas, the French decided that the attitude towards the priestesses of love should be more tolerant in the country. Therefore, their activities were legalized, and the inhabitants of France were obliged to respect them with a legislative level. Public houses were renamed to the houses of tolerance, which already had one name that characterized how the French should perceive corrupt women.

Tolerance houses were very common in the country of love and romance, in the eighteenth century, the priestesses of love earned themselves fortunes, working for two to three years. After all, often customers pay with them looted in the houses of French aristocrats jewelry. Many ladies eventually retired and opened their brothels, as they often called similar institutions in Europe.

And what about Russia? How did we come up with the term "home of tolerance"? This is a rather interesting story, which deserves special attention. Let us recall her.

Why is the House of Tolerance so called

Before the war with Napoleon in Russia had its own term, which characterized the institution with women of easy virtue. Usually they were called rogodiles, that is, places where fornication and debauchery were committed. But the war of 1812 slightly changed the attitude of Russians towards such institutions.

It was the French who brought with them the notion of "home of tolerance", but in Russia it changed a little and acquired a more understandable for our compatriots sounding - a home of tolerance. This meant that what was happening behind the walls of the institution is being blamed, but still takes place. It can be said that society was turning a blind eye to the priestesses of love and their work.

Russia: Tolerance Houses

By the way in Russia before the revolution of 1917 prostitution was a legal occupation and even gave ladies some advantages and benefits. Of course, every priestess of love had to be officially registered, as confirmation she received a certificate with a yellow cover. Without him, she could not find a place for tolerance. Thanks to these certificates, the police easily tracked the corrupt women, besides they had to be regularly observed in the police stations. Medical care in the homes of tolerance was set at a very high level, because it was also mandatory for ladies working in brothels.

It is interesting that the corrupt women in pre-revolutionary Russia themselves could choose a home of tolerance in any city. They could not be limited in movement. Although some other segments of the population were firmly attached to their places of residence. Also freely they could come to the places of military operations and did not fall under the law of vagrancy.

We can say that brothels in the early twentieth century were an integral part of Russian society, although it was not accepted to speak about it in high society. Also, this topic was banned in the presence of ladies and young girls.

Priestesses of love in literature

The theme of prostitution and houses of tolerance was very often exploited by writers of different eras. For example, Honore de Balzac in his work "Shine and Poverty of Courtesans" quite openly for his time told about the fate of girls who were engaged in the sale of his body.

Did not pass over this theme of his fertile theme and Leo Tolstoy in the novel "Resurrection", as well as AI Kuprin in the story "Yama". He wrote about the prostitution of A. Dumas, V. Hugo and Boris Akunin. Until now, stories about fallen women are favorite for writers around the world.

Cinema about the houses of tolerance

Writers and directors also could not ignore the topic of houses of tolerance and quite often use it in their work. One of the most interesting films of this series was released seven years ago. The film under the talking title "House of Tolerance" is a creation of French masters. The story falls into the category of "drama" and tells of the difficult fate of girls working in a house of tolerance in France in the early twentieth century. Before the audience will unfold a whole series of events that will reveal all the secrets of this closed world, where fun should always reign, and the main violin is played by rustling bills.

It is worth noting that the film caused an ambiguous assessment of critics and was even nominated for participation in the Cannes Film Festival. Many spectators admitted that he touched the most intimate strings of the soul and to watch it extremely pleasantly.

Of course, the topic of houses of tolerance is extremely delicate. And even in our enlightened age, when practically all prohibitions are being abolished, this is not customary to speak in society. And this can mean only one thing - the term, once introduced into everyday life, turned out to be extremely correct. After all, society continues to tolerate what it does not want to recognize and what it does not want to say out loud.