Sexuality in Greek and Roman Culture

Marilyn B. Skinner is Professor of Classics Emerita at the University of Arizona. Her research has focused on notions of gender and sexuality in the ancient world. She is the author of Clodia Metelli: The Tribune’s Sister (2011), and co-editor of Narrating Desire: Eros, Sex, and Gender in the Ancient Novel (with M. P. F. Pinheiro and F. I. Zeitlin, 2012), and The New Sappho on Old Age: Textual and Philosophical Issues (with E. Greene, 2009).

List of Illustrations and Maps xi

Preface to the Second Edition xiii

Preface to the First Edition xv

Acknowledgments xviii

Abbreviations xix

Chronological Charts xxvii

Maps xxxii

Introduction: Why Ancient Sexuality? Issues and Approaches 1

Thinking about Sexuality 3

Sex Changes 4

Checking the Right Box 8

Davidson and his Critics 12

The Language and Ethos of Boy-love 13

Foul Mouths 19

Conclusion 23

Discussion Prompts 24

Notes 24

References 25

Further Reading 27

1 The Homeric Age: Epic Sexuality 29

The Golden Goddess 30

Dynamics of Desire 35

The Baneful Race of Women 37

Love under Siege 40

Receptions of Helen 43

The Beguilement of Zeus 45

Alternatives to Penelope 46

Achilles in the Closet? 51

Conclusion 53

Discussion Prompts 54

Notes 55

References 55

Further Reading 57

2 The Archaic Age: Symposium and Initiation 58

When the Cups are Placed 59

Fields of Erotic Dreams 62

Singing as a Man … 67

… and Singing as a Woman 71

Boys into Men 74

Girls into Women 84

Sappho on the Lips of Men 89

Conclusion 91

Discussion Prompts 92

Notes 93

References 96

Further Reading 99

3 Late Archaic Athens: More than Meets the Eye 101

Out of Etruria 102

Lines of Sight 106

Birds of a Different Feather 108

Flirtation at the Gym 109

Party Girls 118

In the Boudoir 127

Bride of Quietness 129

Conclusion 131

Discussion Prompts 133

Notes 134

References 136

Further Reading 138

4 Classical Athens: The Politics of Sex 139

More Equal than Others 141

Pederasty and Class 146

Interview with the Kinaidos 154

In the Grandest Families 161

What the Neighbors Might Think 166

Criminal Proceedings 167

His and Hers (or His) 170

Conclusion 176

Discussion Prompts 177

Notes 177

References 179

Further Reading 182

5 The Early Hellenistic Period: Turning Inwards 184

Court Intrigues 188

Who Is Buried in Philip’s Tomb? 192

Medicine and the Sexes 194

From Croton to Crete 198

Safe Sex 203

Athenian Idol 208

Conclusion 214

Discussion Prompts 215

Notes 215

References 217

Further Reading 220

6 The Later Hellenistic Period: The Feminine Mystique 221

Disrobing Aphrodite 222

Hellenes in Egypt 226

Love among the Pyramids 230

New Gods for Old 236

To Colchis and Back 238

Desiring Women – and their Detractors 241

Conclusion 245

Discussion Prompts 247

Notes 247

References 249

Further Reading 252

7 Early Rome: A Tale of Three Cultures 253

The Pecking Order 256

Imported Vices 259

Bringing Women under Control 261

Butchery for Fun 269

What a Piece of Work is a Man! 270

Conclusion 274

Discussion Prompts 274

Notes 275

References 277

Further Reading 279

8 Republican and Augustan Rome: The Soft Embrace of Venus 280

Only Joking 282

Young Men(?) in Love 286

Sulpicia unveils Herself 291

Mother of All Empires 293

Domestic Visibility 303

Going too Far 306

Conclusion 309

Discussion Prompts 310

Notes 311

References 312

Further Reading 314

9 Elites in the Empire: Self and Others 315

Risky Business 317

Boys named Sue 322

Them 324

Roads to Romance 329

Rock-star Rhetoric 329

‘Greek Love’ under Rome 334

Roads to Nowhere 338

Conclusion 344

Discussion Prompts 345

Notes 345

References 347

Further Reading 349

10 The Imperial Populace: Toward Salvation? 350

The 99% 353

Gravestones and Walls 355

In the Eye of the Beholder 361

The Warren Cup 368

“O Isis und Osiris …” 370

Christian Continence 377

Things Fall Apart 380

Conclusion 383

Discussion Prompts 385

Notes 386

References 389

Further Reading 392

Afterword: The Use of Antiquity 393

Glossary of Terms 398

Index 411