A Companion to Greek and Roman Sexualities

Over the past quarter century, the study of Greco–Roman sexualities has become an important sub–discipline within classical studies, forming a fundamental component of the emerging fields of historical sexology and cultural studies. A Companion to Greek and Roman Sexualities presents a comprehensive collection of original essays relating to aspects of gender and sexuality in the classical world. Featuring contributions from more than 40 top international scholars, readings synthesize current work in the field while pointing to promising new directions for future scholarship. Not restricted by narrow modern categories of sexuality, this collection offers a systematic and holistic view of various practices and discursive contexts of sexuality of the ancient world. Rather than treating Greece and Rome separately, each chapter covers both cultures with sensitivity to the continuities and differences between the two classical civilizations. Some chapters examine evidence through the lens of literary and artistic genres, evaluating each in terms of its own unique conventions. Other chapters address various social environments of sexual conduct (athletics, cult, the military, the banquet), and technical disciplines such as medicine, biology, magic, physiognomy, and dream interpretation. Drawing from a broad spectrum of theoretical perspectives, A Companion to Greek and Roman Sexualities expands and offers insights into our current understanding of sexuality and gender roles in the classical period, as well as their influence on more modern understandings of sexuality.

Thomas K. Hubbard is Professor of Classics and holder of the Mary Helen Thompson Centennial Professorship in the Humanities at the University of Texas, Austin. He is the editor of Greek Love Reconsidered (2000) and Homosexuality in Greece and Rome: A Sourcebook of Basic Documents (2003), and the author of numerous articles on ancient sexuality.