Venereum (after goddess Venus) was an element of ancient Roman private apartments found particularly in Pompeii. It was originally interpreted as a specialized apartment or room dedicated to sexual activities.[1][2] One venereum was found in the House of Julia Felix and another one in the House of Sallust, both in Pompeii.[2] In the latter house, the venereum was a garden with several separate rooms.[2]
A Latin inscription in the House of Julia Felix reports that "on the estate of Julia Felix... a venereum", among other things, was "to be let for a term of five continuous years, from the first to the sixth of the Ides of August".[1] The accompanying abbreviation SQDLENC is conjectured to stand for "Si quis domi lenocinium exerceat ne conducito" ("Let no one apply who keeps a brothel").[1] The venereum in the House of Sallustius included a bedchamber, a triclinium and a lararium.
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