Roman gay love story
Gay Roman Emperors – Ancient Taboos vs Modern Perspectives
FacebookTweetPinEmailLinkedIn
Step into the captivating nature of Gay Roman Emperors – a historical tapestry woven with intrigue, fire, and political finesse.
We unravel the remarkable tales of three iconic rulers: Trajan, Hadrian, and Elagabalus.
As we delve into their lives, we’ll match the attitudes towards homosexuality in the ancient Roman era and the contemporary world.
Understanding Homosexuality in the Roman Empire
In ancient Rome, the perception of homosexuality was vastly different from contemporary views. Roman sexual norms were more concerned with the dynamics of dominance and passivity than traditional gender roles.
The principle of the “active” boyfriend, often referred to as the “dominant,” held a significant place in Roman sexual relations.
In contrast, the “passive” partner, who assumed the “submissive” role, was seen as less socially acceptable.
These roles in Roman homosexual relationships were not determined by the gender of the individuals involved but rather by the power dynamics at play.
Thus, the re
Harry F. Rey
- Harry
- Sep 20, 2022
- 25 min read
Updated: Nov 17, 2024
I grew up north of Hadrian’s Wall, but just south of the more short-lived Antonine Wall that bisects modern Glasgow and Edinburgh. Our academy trips were couched in the rise and descend of the Roman Empire. Our historical sense of time and place moulded by Hadrian, who managed the Empire from the era of its greatest extent, and left a rocky ruin across the Scottish lowlands. But on our doorstep too were the ghosts of the Fall. Viking settlements that spurred the Celtic Gaels and warring Picts to unite and form contemporary Scotland. The battlefields of Bannockburn and Stirling Bridge, monuments to a nation which longed for recognition from the Pontifex Maximus down in Rome. These memories were our morning trips and family outings.
Growing up Scottish is to live between two walls of history. The glorious past and the crumbling present. Growing up gay is similar, but the other way around. The ‘gay’ past haunts us like a spectre, shadows of persecution and disease run sharp but invisible nails up our spine, so we dependency to the ‘it gets better’ we hope will come to pass.
Maybe it will or it won’t get
Achilles: A Love Story
February 3, 2012This review was originally written for the Say Its Name web site:
The Greek era has always been one of my favorites for historical romance. Perhaps it’s because Mary Ranault’s Alexander books were the first historical novels with a gay bent I ever read, or maybe it’s just because it was a time when love between men was not only accepted, but almost expected. So I had high, perhaps unreasonable, hopes when offered "Achilles: A Love Story".
This is the story of Homer’s Iliad, re-told from the signal of view of Antilochus, a prince, the son and heir of King Nestor of Pylos. The young prince has formed a sort of obsession with the already famous Achilles, who is only two years older. Antilochus comes off as a bit of a stalker at first, determined that one day he will meet the object of his desire, and they will instantly grow lovers.
Then comes news of the impending war. Kind Agamemnon comes to Pylos to enlist King Nestor’s support in the war against Troy. Nestor somewhat reluctantly agrees. He and Odysseus then embark on a tour of the other Greek states to garner their support. One of the stops is to be Pythia, where the aid of King
Homosexuality in ancient Rome
During the moment of the Republic, Roman citizens had the right (libertas) to protect their bodies from physical coercion, including both corporal punishment and sexual violence. Roman society was typically patriarchal and masculinity was based on the principle of governing not only oneself but also other persons, especially those from the lower class.
Roman cup representing a homosexual sex scene.
It was socially acceptable for a free-born Roman to have sex with a woman or a man assuming a dominant role. Both women and young men were perceived as organic objects of craving. Outside of marriage, a man could have sex with slaves, prostitutes (who were usually slaves) and the so-called infames (the restricted man). It did not matter with which gender the Roman indulged in until he did not exceed certain social norms. For example, it was immoral to hold sex with another citizen’s free-born wife, his daughter by marriage, his underage son, or the man himself.
During imperial times, the shrink from of losing political freedom and submitting to power to the emperor led to an expand in the frequency of free-born men assuming a passive position du
Источник: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Elagabalus-novel-excess-decadence-Rome/dp/B0C7J7Y3NN 
Achilles: A Love Story
The Greek era has always been one of my favorites for historical romance. Perhaps it’s because Mary Ranault’s Alexander books were the first historical novels with a gay bent I ever read, or maybe it’s just because it was a time when love between men was not only accepted, but almost expected. So I had high, perhaps unreasonable, hopes when offered "Achilles: A Love Story".
This is the story of Homer’s Iliad, re-told from the signal of view of Antilochus, a prince, the son and heir of King Nestor of Pylos. The young prince has formed a sort of obsession with the already famous Achilles, who is only two years older. Antilochus comes off as a bit of a stalker at first, determined that one day he will meet the object of his desire, and they will instantly grow lovers.
Then comes news of the impending war. Kind Agamemnon comes to Pylos to enlist King Nestor’s support in the war against Troy. Nestor somewhat reluctantly agrees. He and Odysseus then embark on a tour of the other Greek states to garner their support. One of the stops is to be Pythia, where the aid of King
Homosexuality in ancient Rome
During the moment of the Republic, Roman citizens had the right (libertas) to protect their bodies from physical coercion, including both corporal punishment and sexual violence. Roman society was typically patriarchal and masculinity was based on the principle of governing not only oneself but also other persons, especially those from the lower class.
Roman cup representing a homosexual sex scene.
It was socially acceptable for a free-born Roman to have sex with a woman or a man assuming a dominant role. Both women and young men were perceived as organic objects of craving. Outside of marriage, a man could have sex with slaves, prostitutes (who were usually slaves) and the so-called infames (the restricted man). It did not matter with which gender the Roman indulged in until he did not exceed certain social norms. For example, it was immoral to hold sex with another citizen’s free-born wife, his daughter by marriage, his underage son, or the man himself.
During imperial times, the shrink from of losing political freedom and submitting to power to the emperor led to an expand in the frequency of free-born men assuming a passive position du