Ancient Abortion

[the5500th]

Hello UNRV members,

I was reading the report on this website about the possibility of a Roman brothel being found in England with a dozens of babies being buried there. These babies are thought to be the unwanted children of the prostetutes working at the brothel. I was wondering if there were anything that a pregnant woman who did not want the child could do in ancient times that would be along the lines of an abortion.

 

Also I know that ancient armies would have prostatutes amongst the camp followers and I always asumed the same went for the Roman army but I was just reading about Roman military camp life and there was no metion of them and so I went and did a little research and found nothing about prostatutes and the Roman army.

 

Thanks

Edited June 26, 2010 by the5500th

[Ursus]

Abortion was totally legal in Rome until the later stages in history. There were a variety of plant based products a woman could take orally or vaginally to provoke an abortion.

[the5500th]

Thanks. Why would the women at the brothel in england not use these metheds and have an abortion rather then waiting until the child was 4 months old or did I read the artical wrong. ALso does anybody know if Roman military camps contained prostitutes as other ancient militaries did.