Homosexuality in ancient Rome
Homosexuality in ancient Rome often differs markedly from the contemporary West . Latin lacks words that would precisely translate " homosexual " and " heterosexual ". [1] The primary dichotomy of ancient Roman sexuality was active/ dominant /masculine and passive/submissive/feminine. Roman society was patriarchal , and the freeborn male citizen possessed political liberty ( libertas ) and the right to rule both himself and his household ( familia ). "Virtue" ( virtus ) was seen as an active quality through which a man ( vir ) defined himself. The conquest mentality and "cult of virility" shaped same-sex relations. Roman men were free to enjoy sex with other males without a perceived loss of masculinity or social status, as long as they took the dominant or penetrative role. Acceptable male partners were slaves and former slaves, prostitutes , and entertainers, whose lifestyle placed them in the nebulous social realm of infamia , excluded from the normal protections accorded a citizen even if they were technically free. Although Roman men in general seem to have preferred youths between the ages of 12 and 20 as sexual partners, freeborn male minors were off limits at certain periods of Rome, though professional prostitutes and entertainers might remain sexually available well into adulthood. [2]
Page Revisions
| Year | Metadata | Sections | Top Words | First Paragraph |
| 2018 |
169567 characters 28 sections 65 paragraphs 11 images 323 internal links 3 external links |
roman 0.320 puer 0.204 male 0.197 cinaedus 0.177 concubinus 0.163 delicatus 0.163 greek 0.155 freeborn 0.136 passive 0.128 boy 0.116 catullus 0.109 slave 0.099 slaves 0.099 masculine 0.099 rape 0.099 |
Homosexuality in ancient Rome often differs markedly from the contemporary West . Latin lacks words that would precisely translate " homosexual " and " heterosexual ". [1] The primary dichotomy of ancient Roman sexuality was active/ dominant /masculine and passive/submissive/feminine. Roman society was patriarchal , and the freeborn male citizen possessed political liberty ( libertas ) and the right to rule both himself and his household ( familia ). "Virtue" ( virtus ) was seen as an active quality through which a man ( vir ) defined himself. The conquest mentality and "cult of virility" shaped same-sex relations. Roman men were free to enjoy sex with other males without a perceived loss of masculinity or social status, as long as they took the dominant or penetrative role. Acceptable male partners were slaves and former slaves, prostitutes , and entertainers, whose lifestyle placed them in the nebulous social realm of infamia , excluded from the normal protections accorded a citizen even if they were technically free. Although Roman men in general seem to have preferred youths between the ages of 12 and 20 as sexual partners, freeborn male minors were off limits at certain periods of Rome, though professional prostitutes and entertainers might remain sexually available well into adulthood. [2] |
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| 2017 |
165103 characters 28 sections 65 paragraphs 10 images 319 internal links 2 external links |
roman 0.313 puer 0.206 male 0.204 cinaedus 0.179 concubinus 0.165 delicatus 0.165 greek 0.156 freeborn 0.138 passive 0.129 boy 0.117 catullus 0.110 slave 0.100 masculine 0.100 rape 0.100 century 0.096 |
Homosexuality in ancient Rome often differs markedly from the contemporary West . Latin lacks words that would precisely translate " homosexual " and " heterosexual ". [1] The primary dichotomy of ancient Roman sexuality was active/ dominant /masculine and passive/submissive/feminine. Roman society was patriarchal , and the freeborn male citizen possessed political liberty ( libertas ) and the right to rule both himself and his household ( familia ). "Virtue" ( virtus ) was seen as an active quality through which a man ( vir ) defined himself. The conquest mentality and "cult of virility" shaped same-sex relations. Roman men were free to enjoy sex with other males without a perceived loss of masculinity or social status, as long as they took the dominant or penetrative role. Acceptable male partners were slaves , prostitutes , and entertainers, whose lifestyle placed them in the nebulous social realm of infamia , excluded from the normal protections accorded a citizen even if they were technically free. Although Roman men in general seem to have preferred youths between the ages of 12 and 20 as sexual partners, freeborn male minors were strictly off limits, and professional prostitutes and entertainers might be considerably older. [2] |
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| 2016 |
164595 characters 28 sections 65 paragraphs 10 images 318 internal links 2 external links |
2. Homoerotic literature and art |
roman 0.323 male 0.216 puer 0.203 cinaedus 0.176 concubinus 0.163 delicatus 0.163 greek 0.161 freeborn 0.136 passive 0.127 boy 0.115 catullus 0.108 slave 0.099 masculine 0.099 rape 0.099 century 0.094 |
Homosexuality in ancient Rome often differs markedly from the contemporary West . Latin lacks words that would precisely translate " homosexual " and " heterosexual ". [1] The primary dichotomy of ancient Roman sexuality was active/ dominant /masculine and passive/submissive/"feminised". Roman society was patriarchal , and the freeborn male citizen possessed political liberty ( libertas ) and the right to rule both himself and his household ( familia ). "Virtue" ( virtus ) was seen as an active quality through which a man ( vir ) defined himself. The conquest mentality and "cult of virility" shaped same-sex relations. Roman men were free to enjoy sex with other males without a perceived loss of masculinity or social status, as long as they took the dominant or penetrative role. Acceptable male partners were slaves , prostitutes , and entertainers, whose lifestyle placed them in the nebulous social realm of infamia , excluded from the normal protections accorded a citizen even if they were technically free. Although Roman men in general seem to have preferred youths between the ages of 12 and 20 as sexual partners, freeborn male minors were strictly off limits, and professional prostitutes and entertainers might be considerably older. [2] |
| 2015 |
175823 characters 29 sections 69 paragraphs 12 images 335 internal links 2 external links |
roman 0.327 male 0.215 puer 0.196 cinaedus 0.170 concubinus 0.157 delicatus 0.157 greek 0.155 freeborn 0.131 passive 0.123 boy 0.111 catullus 0.104 hermaphroditus 0.104 slave 0.104 century 0.096 masculine 0.095 |
Same-sex attitudes and behaviors in ancient Rome often differ markedly from those of the contemporary West . Latin lacks words that would precisely translate " homosexual " and " heterosexual ". [1] The primary dichotomy of ancient Roman sexuality was active/ dominant /masculine and passive/submissive/"feminized". Roman society was patriarchal , and the freeborn male citizen possessed political liberty ( libertas ) and the right to rule both himself and his household ( familia ). "Virtue" ( virtus ) was seen as an active quality through which a man ( vir ) defined himself. The conquest mentality and "cult of virility" shaped same-sex relations. Roman men were free to enjoy sex with other males without a perceived loss of masculinity or social status, as long as they took the dominant or penetrative role. Acceptable male partners were slaves , prostitutes , and entertainers, whose lifestyle placed them in the nebulous social realm of infamia , excluded from the normal protections accorded a citizen even if they were technically free. Although Roman men in general seem to have preferred youths between the ages of 12 and 20 as sexual partners, freeborn male minors were strictly off-limits, and professional prostitutes and entertainers might be considerably older. [2] |
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| 2014 |
176814 characters 29 sections 69 paragraphs 12 images 336 internal links 2 external links |
roman 0.334 puer 0.197 cinaedus 0.171 male 0.168 concubinus 0.158 delicatus 0.158 greek 0.156 freeborn 0.132 passive 0.124 boy 0.112 catullus 0.105 hermaphroditus 0.105 slave 0.105 century 0.096 masculine 0.096 |
Same-sex attitudes and behaviors in ancient Rome often differ markedly from those of the contemporary West . Latin lacks words that would precisely translate " homosexual " and " heterosexual ". [1] The primary dichotomy of ancient Roman sexuality was active/ dominant /masculine and passive/submissive/"feminized". Roman society was patriarchal , and the freeborn male citizen possessed political liberty ( libertas ) and the right to rule both himself and his household ( familia ). "Virtue" ( virtus ) was seen as an active quality through which a man ( vir ) defined himself. The conquest mentality and "cult of virility" shaped same-sex relations. Roman men were free to enjoy sex with other males without a perceived loss of masculinity or social status, as long as they took the dominant or penetrative role. Acceptable male partners were slaves , prostitutes , and entertainers, whose lifestyle placed them in the nebulous social realm of infamia , excluded from the normal protections accorded a citizen even if they were technically free. Although Roman men in general seem to have preferred youths between the ages of 12 and 20 as sexual partners, freeborn male minors were strictly off-limits, and professional prostitutes and entertainers might be considerably older. [2] |
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| 2013 |
176141 characters 29 sections 69 paragraphs 13 images 337 internal links 2 external links |
roman 0.334 puer 0.197 cinaedus 0.171 male 0.168 concubinus 0.158 delicatus 0.158 greek 0.156 freeborn 0.132 passive 0.124 boy 0.112 catullus 0.105 hermaphroditus 0.105 slave 0.105 century 0.096 masculine 0.096 |
Same-sex attitudes and behaviors in ancient Rome often differ markedly from those of the contemporary West . Latin lacks words that would precisely translate " homosexual " and " heterosexual ." The primary dichotomy of ancient Roman sexuality was active/ dominant /masculine and passive/submissive/"feminized". Roman society was patriarchal , and the freeborn male citizen possessed political liberty (libertas) and the right to rule both himself and those of his household ( familia ) . "Virtue" ( virtus ) was seen as an active quality through which a man (vir) defined himself. The conquest mentality and "cult of virility" shaped same-sex relations. Roman men were free to enjoy sex with other males without a perceived loss of masculinity or social status, as long as they took the dominant or penetrative role. Acceptable male partners were slaves , prostitutes , and entertainers, whose lifestyle placed them in the nebulous social realm of infamia , excluded from the normal protections accorded a citizen even if they were technically free. Although Roman men in general seem to have preferred youths between the ages of 12 and 20 as sexual partners, freeborn male minors were strictly off-limits, and professional prostitutes and entertainers might be considerably older. |
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| 2012 |
176196 characters 29 sections 70 paragraphs 14 images 338 internal links 2 external links |
roman 0.334 puer 0.197 cinaedus 0.171 male 0.168 concubinus 0.158 delicatus 0.158 greek 0.156 freeborn 0.132 passive 0.124 boy 0.112 catullus 0.105 hermaphroditus 0.105 slave 0.105 century 0.096 masculine 0.096 |
Same-sex attitudes and behaviors in ancient Rome often differ markedly from those of the contemporary West . Latin lacks words that would precisely translate " homosexual " and " heterosexual ." The primary dichotomy of ancient Roman sexuality was active/ dominant /masculine and passive/ submissive /"feminized". Roman society was patriarchal , and the freeborn male citizen possessed political liberty (libertas) and the right to rule both himself and those of his household ( familia ) . |
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| 2011 |
171408 characters 29 sections 67 paragraphs 14 images 328 internal links 1 external links |
roman 0.326 puer 0.205 concubinus 0.164 delicatus 0.164 male 0.162 greek 0.155 freeborn 0.137 cinaedus 0.137 passive 0.128 boy 0.116 catullus 0.109 hermaphroditus 0.109 slave 0.109 masculine 0.100 rape 0.100 |
Same-sex attitudes and behaviors in ancient Rome often differ markedly from those of the contemporary West . Latin lacks words that would precisely translate " homosexual " and " heterosexual ." The primary dichotomy of ancient Roman sexuality was active/ dominant /masculine and passive/ submissive /"feminized". Roman society was patriarchal , and the freeborn male citizen possessed political liberty (libertas) and the right to rule both himself and those of his household ( familia ) . "Virtue" ( virtus ) was seen as an active quality through which a man (vir) defined himself. The conquest mentality and "cult of virility" shaped same-sex relations. Roman men were free to enjoy sex with other males without a perceived loss of masculinity or social status, as long as they took the dominant or penetrative role. Acceptable male partners were slaves , prostitutes , and entertainers, whose lifestyle placed them in the nebulous social realm of infamia , excluded from the normal protections accorded a citizen even if they were technically free. Although Roman men in general seem to have preferred youths between the ages of 12 and 20 as sexual partners, freeborn male minors were strictly off-limits, and professional prostitutes and entertainers might be considerably older. |
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| 2010 |
38155 characters 12 sections 16 paragraphs 5 images 107 internal links 0 external links |
passive 0.437 emperor 0.179 roman 0.179 role 0.176 rome 0.165 ancient 0.162 homosexuality 0.161 martial 0.159 active 0.151 condemned 0.139 greek 0.126 emperors 0.119 lovers 0.119 negative 0.101 men 0.100 |
Homosexuality in ancient Rome features in many literary works, poems, graffiti and comments on the sexual predilections of single emperors. Graphic representations are, on the other hand, rarer in ancient Rome than in classical Greece. Attitudes toward homosexuality changed over the time and from context to context, ranging from strong condemnation to quite open acceptance. Indeed, it was also purported to be one of the cultural facts of certain provinces. |
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| 2009 |
40552 characters 12 sections 16 paragraphs 6 images 113 internal links 0 external links |
passive 0.413 pederasty 0.203 ancient 0.197 rome 0.183 emperor 0.169 roman 0.169 homosexuality 0.169 role 0.167 martial 0.150 greek 0.143 active 0.143 condemned 0.132 relations 0.127 greece 0.117 lovers 0.113 |
Homosexuality in ancient Rome features in many literary works, poems, graffiti and comments on the sexual predelictions of single emperors. Graphic representations are, on the other hand, rarer in ancient Rome than in classical Greece. Attitudes toward homosexuality changed over the time and from context to context, ranging from strong condemnation to quite open acceptance. Indeed, it was also purported to be one of the cultural facts of certain provinces. |
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| 2008 |
43049 characters 13 sections 16 paragraphs 5 images 124 internal links 2 external links |
passive 0.412 emperor 0.236 ancient 0.218 roman 0.202 rome 0.182 pederasty 0.169 homosexuality 0.168 role 0.166 martial 0.150 greek 0.142 active 0.142 greece 0.116 lovers 0.112 condemned 0.109 men 0.102 |
Within the spectre of sexuality in ancient Rome , sources for Ancient Roman homosexual practice, and attitudes and acceptance of it are abundantly available. There are literary works, poems, graffiti and comments on the sexual predelictions of single emperors. Graphic representations are, on the other hand, rarer in ancient Rome than in classical Greece. Attitudes toward homosexuality changed over the time and from context to context, ranging from strong condemnation to quite open acceptance. Indeed, it was also purported to be one of the cultural facts of certain provinces. |
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| 2007 |
63801 characters 13 sections 18 paragraphs 5 images 261 internal links 3 external links |
passive 0.404 emperor 0.232 roman 0.215 ancient 0.193 pederasty 0.165 homosexuality 0.165 role 0.163 greek 0.163 rome 0.153 martial 0.147 active 0.139 love 0.135 boy 0.122 greece 0.114 emperors 0.110 |
Sources for Ancient Roman homosexual practice, and attitudes and acceptance of it are abundantly available. There are literary works, poems, graffiti and comments on the sexual predelictions of single emperors. Graphic representations are, on the other hand, rarer in ancient Rome than in classical Greece. Attitudes towards homosexuality changed over the time and from context to context, ranging from strong condemnation to quite open acceptance. Indeed, it was also purported to be one of the cultural facts of certain provinces. |
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| 2006 |
41929 characters 4 sections 8 paragraphs 4 images 232 internal links 2 external links |
pederasty 0.301 roman 0.263 relations 0.235 emperor 0.226 greek 0.211 catamite 0.195 boys 0.195 lovers 0.167 empire 0.151 boy 0.139 romans 0.139 appears 0.111 1776 0.098 interactions 0.098 owed 0.098 |
In the early Roman Republic , pederasty was considered a degenerate Greek practice and as such was generally forbidden or not-done. |