For thousands of years, lust has been labeled as one of the deadliest sins — a dangerous indulgence, a threat to morality, a temptation that must be resisted. And yet, behind the stained-glass warnings and trembling sermons lies a far more complex truth: lust didn’t just tempt society. It helped build it.
In Part 2 of our deep dive into the sin of Lust, we’re tracing the rise, repression, resilience, and radical evolution of sex work and pornography — from ancient sacred rituals to today's digital landscapes.
⛩️ Sacred Sex and Divine Devotion
Long before sex was considered shameful, it was sacred. In ancient Mesopotamia, the goddess Inanna — later known as Ishtar or Aphrodite — embodied love, war, fertility, and political power. Temples devoted to her were not just places of worship, but centers of sacred sexuality.
According to Herodotus, Babylonian women were expected to engage in ritual sex at least once in their lives, offering themselves to a stranger in the temple of Aphrodite as an act of divine devotion. It was not shameful. It was holy. The money exchanged wasn’t payment — it was a sacred offering. A woman who refused could be accused of sinning against the goddess herself.
This sacred sex work wasn’t just spiritual; it was political. Female sexuality, when tied to divine power, was threatening to rising patriarchal religious structures. And so, as monotheistic religions grew — particularly Christianity — sacred sexuality became sin.
🏛️ Rome, Regulation, and Reputation
The Romans, on the other hand, were practical. Prostitution was legal, regulated, and taxed. Brothels (or lupanaria) were located on busy streets and adorned with erotic art. Clients could choose their experience — often advertised with chalk-drawn menus outside the door. Men and women both participated in the sex trade, and same-sex relationships were commonplace and accepted.
But that didn’t mean sex workers were respected. Despite being woven into the fabric of daily life, they were denied legal rights, citizenship protections, and social status. Once registered as a sex worker, your name was permanently marked — a social scarlet letter, if you will.
Acceptance didn’t mean equality. And some things, unfortunately, haven’t changed much since.
👠 The Courtesans Who Shaped Culture
Fast forward to the 19th and early 20th centuries, and sex work was once again deeply intertwined with power — especially in Europe and America. Women like Cora Pearl and Belle Brezing weren’t just sex workers; they were cultural icons, fashion leaders, and political influencers. They hosted salons, inspired painters, and even advised politicians.
In an era when most women couldn’t own property or open bank accounts, high-end courtesans wielded wealth and autonomy most could only dream of. But visibility came at a cost: backlash, criminalization, and moral crusades. The purity laws of the time targeted sex workers specifically — yet they continued to organize, demand protections, and influence society behind the scenes.
🌐 The Digital Age of Autonomy — and Anxiety
Today, the sex industry has transformed once again — this time through the power of the internet. Platforms like OnlyFans, camming sites, and online escort directories have created unprecedented levels of autonomy and access for workers. People can now create content, screen clients, and run their businesses from home — even from rural or marginalized communities that were once cut off from the industry entirely.
Technology has reduced many of the physical dangers of in-person sex work, offering privacy, flexibility, and control. But it’s not without its issues. Digital burnout, stolen content, shadow banning, and sudden account deletions have become common threats in a landscape controlled by opaque corporate algorithms.
Moreover, the rise of digital sex work has altered the emotional nature of intimacy. While the screen provides safety, it can also create isolation. Many workers report a growing sense of disconnection — a flood of messages, content demands, and no real connection behind the screen.
📉 And when platforms like Instagram, PayPal, or Meta crack down on adult content, workers are left vulnerable — deplatformed without warning or appeal.
🎥 Porn: Fantasy, Exploitation, Empowerment
If sex work has always existed, so has our fascination with watching it. The word “pornography” comes from the Greek porni (“prostitute”) and graphein (“to write”) — literally meaning “writing about sex workers.” Originally, this included art, poetry, and plays. Today, we associate it with streaming videos, glossy film studios, and the infinite scroll of user-generated content.
From the first erotic film in 1897 to the home video boom of the 1980s to the internet explosion of the 2000s, porn has both shaped and reflected society’s evolving views on sex, consent, and bodies. But the industry has also faced serious ethical challenges — from exploitation and coercion to the lack of consent verification and stolen content.
Some creators are fighting back: feminist porn producers, ethical studios, and platforms like Make Love Not Porn focus on consent, realism, and connection. The rise of amateur porn — real people, real bodies, real sex — is a powerful counter to the glossy, male-gaze-dominated content that still dominates mainstream sites.
🤔 Lust Was Never the Problem
So, what does all this mean?
Lust — like sex work and pornography — has always been a scapegoat. But the real issue isn’t desire. It’s how we frame it. Demonizing sex workers, censoring adult creators, and shaming human intimacy doesn’t make society safer or more moral. It just makes it more divided, more dishonest, and more dangerous for the very people we rely on to fulfill our most human needs.
Sex work has always been about more than just economics. It’s about survival, storytelling, resistance, and power. And in a world that still tries to control bodies and silence desire, sex workers remain some of the most radical agents of autonomy and resilience we have.
And that’s why Lust didn’t just tempt us. It built us.
📚 References & Sources
https://www.historyhit.com/the-worlds-oldest-profession-prostitution-in-ancient-rome/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pornographic_film
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Coucher_de_la_Mari%C3%A9e
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Kiss_(1896_film)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Satario
🎧 Listen Now:
Catch Episode 3: Lust – The Sin That Built an Industry (Part 1) now wherever you get your podcasts. Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and share if you enjoy the episode—and let us know your thoughts on lust, shame, and reclaiming desire in today’s world.
Stay sinful,
The Sanctuary of Sin Team
💋🔥⛓️