The Roman emperor was INTIMATE with the soldiers, and they considered it normal

Ideas about sexuality have shifted dramatically over the centuries, and the ancient world—especially Rome—held views very different from our own. For the Romans, the issue was not the gender of one’s partner but the role one played in the relationship. Freeborn male citizens were expected to remain dominant and active, whether with men or women, as a reflection of their virtue and social standing.

Because of this, the Roman army strictly punished homosexual relationships between soldiers, since such acts implied that one of them had taken the passive, and therefore shameful, role. Yet these same soldiers were permitted to engage in same-sex relations outside the camp with individuals of lower status—slaves, youths, or members of the infamis class. Even Roman commanders, thanks to their authority and freedom of action, often displayed greater flexibility, and numerous accounts describe their same-sex relationships while on campaign.

In this episode, we explore these ancient concepts of sexuality through the lives of some of the most powerful figures in the Roman Empire—Rome’s so-called “gay emperors.” By examining the cases of Nero, Trajan, Hadrian, and Elagabalus, we uncover how their stories illuminate Roman attitudes toward sex, power, and social hierarchy.

#documentary #rome #history

Sources and Suggested Reading:
Desert City by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
Artist: http://incompetech.com/
Cylinder Two by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Source: http://chriszabriskie.com/cylinders/
Artist: http://chriszabriskie.com/
Dark Times by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
Artist: http://incompetech.com/