![]() 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. The conquest mentality and "cult of virility" shaped same-sex relations. "Virtue" ( virtus) was seen as an active quality through which a man ( vir) defined himself. ![]() Roman society was patriarchal, and the freeborn male citizen possessed political liberty ( libertas) and the right to rule both himself and his household ( familia). The primary dichotomy of ancient Roman sexuality was active/ dominant/masculine and passive/submissive/feminine. Latin lacks words that would precisely translate " homosexual" and " heterosexual". Homosexuality in ancient Rome often differs markedly from the contemporary West. ![]() Roman mosaic from Susa, Libya, depicting the myth of Zeus in the form of an eagle abducting the boy Ganymede
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |