The Garden of Priapus

Using literary and feminist methodology, this study argues that an attitude of sexual aggressiveness in defence served as a model for Roman satire. The author suggests that aggressive sexual humour reinforced Roman aggressive behaviour on both the individual and societal levels.

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Statues of the god Priapus stood in Roman gardens to warn potential thieves that the god would rape them if they attempted to steal from him. Amy Richlin argues that the attitude of sexual aggressiveness in defence of a bounded area serves as a model for Roman satire from Lucilius to Juvenal. Using literary, anthropological, psychological, and feminist methodologies, she suggests that aggressive sexual humour reinforces aggressive behaviour on both the individual and societal level, and that Roman satire provides an insight into Roman culture.