So let's continue with the ancient
Romans and sex
Virtus - male ideal in ancient Rome
Rome was an extremely masculine, or
"macho" society. Unlike the Greek world, the Roman male ideal was
based on the following pillars: virtue, masculine honor, self-discipline,
humility, patriotism, family loyalty, and respect for ancestors. That was the
virtue. This was emphasized in their tombs by the great families of Rome. In
the ancient Greek world, predominantly sexual positions for women (retro, tergo
- today's doggy-style) were prevalent, whereas in the Roman era women preferred
sedeo, incurvo.
Prostitution
Almost every ancient Roman city had
a brothel. These usually worked legally, with the permission of the aedilis
("law enforcement officer"), and here the meretrixes (the
"prostitute") could work. Pompeii is the most well-known example of
the everyday life of prostitution: nearly a hundred prostitutes - men and women
- are known for their names, services, "abilities" and prices, but
there are many portrayals. Prostitution was legal, but there were strict rules:
a Roman citizen could not be a prostitute, a married woman or a man could not
prostitute. The meretrix had a specific toga (toga mulieris). Completely naked,
they rarely depict women, most of them wearing a bra-like band.
a roman courtesan
wikipedia.org
However, there were tragedies in
the lives of prostitutes: in 1912, dozens of baby graves were discovered at a
brothel. Archaeologists speculate that prostitutes had to kill their children.
Pederastics and adult love for men
The Romans, because of the main
pillars of the Virtue, tolerated only certain forms of pederastics (an adult
male's erotic relationship with a 13-17-year-old boy). An adult Roman citizen
could only sleep with a slave boy, and only the active role was accepted. The
inclusive, passive role was unworthy of a Roman citizen. However, Marcus
Antonius and many Roman emperors, for example, were suspected of having a
passive role. The best-known pederaster in the Roman world is related to the
name of Emperor Hadrian and his lover, Antinous.
Hadrian
wikipedia.org
All forms of sexual relations
between two Roman men have been prohibited by law in Rome since the Republic.
But there are many "me too" stories from antiquity when prestigious
Roman soldiers or citizens abused young boys or adult soldiers by abusing their
power. One of the most scandalous cases is Gaius Lusius. He had been harassing
Trebonius, a young man famous for his beauty, for a long time. The harassment
resulted in a young soldier stabbing and killing Gaius Lucius one night. Then,
in a lawsuit, he was told the truth, and he was honored.
There are many erotic stories about
the Roman emperors, such as the "fish" (children) lurking in the
Emperor's Tiberius basin, the orgies of Caligula, Nero's female attire, and her
passive role in bed. Their credibility is rather uncertain, as they were
usually created after the death of emperors and were part of enduring campaigns.
Caligula
wikipedia.org
Sex and archeology
The Romans' sexual habits are known
primarily from works of fiction, imperial biographies, ancient dramas, and
prose. However, there are numerous archaeological finds: mainly from Pompeii
and Herculanaeum.
Herculaneum
wikipedia.org
The archeology of the brothel houses and their rich source is
outstanding: phallic hangers and candlesticks were present in the houses mainly
because of their magical power and protective role; the phallic columns and
reliefs on the houses marked the brothel.
At the same time, brothels feature
frescoes, special beds, depictions of women's dresses, and even sexual aids
(dildos). Some of the Roman bronze vessels with erotic scenes are known. Some
of the candlesticks and molds decorated with erotic scenes were funerary items.
It has likely been brought to the afterlife as a message of lust and zeal for
life.
The history of Roman sexuality is
an extremely complex subject that fills libraries. But there are also some
misconceptions: the history of Roman sexuality is often confused with the history of Greek sexuality and is presented in a much more liberal way than it
was.
Let's go to the Far-East, to the mysterious China!
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