The History of Sex

A Brief History of Sex in Western Civilization The Ancient Greeks • 4th & 5th century B.C. • Periclean Athens: the cradle of Western Civilization Ancient Greece • A male dominated society • Men were regarded as naturally bisexual • Two primary sexual distinctions: 1) active vs. passive roles 2) orgiastic vs. self-controlled Alexander the Great (continued) • Idealized pederasty • Taboos: 1) oral and anal sex considered vulgar 2) boy was expected to gain no sexual pleasure 3) no money exchanged 4) adult must be worthy suitor The Ancient Greeks Plato Aristotle Socrates The Ancient Greeks (Continued) • Marriage: primarily for the transfer of property, a business arrangement Penis Statuary at Delos Were the Ancient Greeks “sex-crazed phallocrats?” Penis Statuary at Delos The Ancient Romans • Same basic rules as in Greece • Pederasty is no longer idealized Ancient Romans While some were controlled, others were orgiastic Ancient Rome Bisexuality was considered normal Ancient Rome The sexual exploitation of male and female slaves was very common City Wall of Pompeii Villa de Mysterie frieze of Dionysian ritual Temple of Isis Public Bath Interior of Brothel