Sexuality in Greece and rome

Male sexuality in greece -Pedarasty

-a socially acknowledged educative and erotic relationship between and adult man and a younger male

-erastes: older, persued eromenos, often at gymnasium. Provides education in politics, philosophy, rhetoric, social customs etc, would give gifts to eromenos but not money or it becomes prostitution

-eromenos: chosen for beauty, provides erastes with sexual release in return for education. Supposed to be in form of interfemoral sex. Not supposed to be enjoyed by eromenos, only by erastes

-status was highly important, neither could be seen as taking the womens role in sex

-sex had to be face ot face, neither should be penetrated

-same sex relationship should not be main relationship, expected to marry and have sexual relationships with his wife and other women at the same time

male sexuality in greece- wives

-primary relationship for an heri

-evidence suggests sex was enjoyed

male sexuality in greece- prostitution

-pornai/pornoi= street walker/ brothel workers. Men or women, always slaves and owned by brothel owners

-Hetaira- highly educated courtesans. Always women or slaves

-both allowed and formalised. Was helpful for the economy and actively encouraged for unmarried men

male sexuality in greece- slaves

often exploited, both male and female. They werent considered people. There are court cases where slaves fought back

Eva Keuls scholarship

“ancient greek men were pigs”

Roman sexuality- infames

people who, because of their profession, had no legal standing in rome eg gladiators, actors, prostitutes

Roman sexuality- between men

-active and passive

-penetrative sex between men was allowed only if one wasnt a roman citizen

-if a citizen man was penetrated their virtus was called into question

Roman sexuality- puer delicates

slave boys bought for sexual relations for men, in some cases they were castrated to keep them looking young and feminine

roman sexuality- slavery and prostitution

-acceptable and encouraged

-could be male or female

-brothels were commonplace and a source of economic activity

Roman sexuality- adultery

-outlawed by Augustus

-BUT this was hugely unpopular with the people, Suetonius described open revolt

-ovid writes about pursuing married women and suceeding.