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Prostitution in Egypt
Prostitution is illegal in Egypt. The Egyptian National Police officially combats prostitution but, like almost all other countries, prostitution exists in Egypt. UNAIDS estimate there to be 23,000 prostitutes in the country, including Egyptians, West Africans and Eastern Europeans.
Little is known about the practice of prostitution in ancient Egypt. The Turin Erotic Papyrus depicts women—possibly prostitutes—engaged in sexual acts with men. Permanent body adornment, such as tattoos in the form of dotted diamond shapes on the thighs of figurines and mummies, or images of the god Bes, appear on depictions of professional entertainers and prostitutes. Strabo, writing about Roman Egypt, noted that daughters of noble families could be dedicated to the service of the god Amun (or Zeus); such a girl was said to become a prostitute, engaging in sex with whomever she pleased until the onset of menstruation.
As in the rest of the Roman Empire, prostitution was regulated. Prostitutes had to be registered and taxes were collected from them.
During the era of slavery in the Muslim world, prostitution was connected to slavery in Egypt. The Islamic Law formally prohibited prostitution. However, since Islamic Law allowed a man to have sexual intercourse with his female slave in accordance with the principle of concubinage in Islam, prostitution was practiced by a pimp selling his female slave on the slave market to a client, who was allowed to have intercourse with her as her new owner, and who then returned his ownership of her to her pimp on the pretext of discontent after having had intercourse with her, which was a legal and accepted method for prostitution in the Islamic world for centuries until the era of Ottoman Empire.
Aside from female slaves, there were however also free prostitutes. Prostitution was generally tolerated and taxed during this period, the rulers taking the view that prohibition would not stop prostitution and that tax revenue would be lost.
There were periods when prostitution (of free prostitutes) was prohibited following pressure on the rulers from Muslim clerics.
Prostitution was connected to slavery during the era of slavery in Ottoman Egypt. Since Islamic Law allowed a man to have sexual intercourse with his female slave in accordance with the principle of concubinage in Islam, prostitution was practiced by a pimp selling his female slave on the slave market to a client, who was allowed to have intercourse with her as her new owner, and who then returned his ownership of her to her pimp on the pretext of discontent after having had intercourse with her, which was a legal and accepted method for prostitution in the Islamic world.
Under Ottoman rule, the regulation and taxation of (free) prostitutes continued. During the 17th century two guilds for prostitutes were set up.
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Prostitution in Egypt
Prostitution is illegal in Egypt. The Egyptian National Police officially combats prostitution but, like almost all other countries, prostitution exists in Egypt. UNAIDS estimate there to be 23,000 prostitutes in the country, including Egyptians, West Africans and Eastern Europeans.
Little is known about the practice of prostitution in ancient Egypt. The Turin Erotic Papyrus depicts women—possibly prostitutes—engaged in sexual acts with men. Permanent body adornment, such as tattoos in the form of dotted diamond shapes on the thighs of figurines and mummies, or images of the god Bes, appear on depictions of professional entertainers and prostitutes. Strabo, writing about Roman Egypt, noted that daughters of noble families could be dedicated to the service of the god Amun (or Zeus); such a girl was said to become a prostitute, engaging in sex with whomever she pleased until the onset of menstruation.
As in the rest of the Roman Empire, prostitution was regulated. Prostitutes had to be registered and taxes were collected from them.
During the era of slavery in the Muslim world, prostitution was connected to slavery in Egypt. The Islamic Law formally prohibited prostitution. However, since Islamic Law allowed a man to have sexual intercourse with his female slave in accordance with the principle of concubinage in Islam, prostitution was practiced by a pimp selling his female slave on the slave market to a client, who was allowed to have intercourse with her as her new owner, and who then returned his ownership of her to her pimp on the pretext of discontent after having had intercourse with her, which was a legal and accepted method for prostitution in the Islamic world for centuries until the era of Ottoman Empire.
Aside from female slaves, there were however also free prostitutes. Prostitution was generally tolerated and taxed during this period, the rulers taking the view that prohibition would not stop prostitution and that tax revenue would be lost.
There were periods when prostitution (of free prostitutes) was prohibited following pressure on the rulers from Muslim clerics.
Prostitution was connected to slavery during the era of slavery in Ottoman Egypt. Since Islamic Law allowed a man to have sexual intercourse with his female slave in accordance with the principle of concubinage in Islam, prostitution was practiced by a pimp selling his female slave on the slave market to a client, who was allowed to have intercourse with her as her new owner, and who then returned his ownership of her to her pimp on the pretext of discontent after having had intercourse with her, which was a legal and accepted method for prostitution in the Islamic world.
Under Ottoman rule, the regulation and taxation of (free) prostitutes continued. During the 17th century two guilds for prostitutes were set up.