HISTORY OF SEX ROMAN EMPIRE

HISTORY OF SEX

ROMAN EMPIRE

Ancient Rome was nearly identical to Ancient Greece.
It was a patrilineal society where the men owned
the property, including the women. Men depicted
themselves naked in artwork, while wifes and mothers
were clothed, robed, and veiled. Prostitutes were
depicted naked.

Roman Mythology

Roman mythology is also nearly identical
to Greek mythology with different names
for each god and goddess, but the same
traits and stories for those deities.
Juno = Hera
Venus = Aphrodite

Mutunus Tutunus

We know from the writings of monks in monasteries that they found a rather unique temple in Velia. This temple's god had no
face, nor body, but was represented in the form of a penis and called "Mutunus Tutunus." Phalluses were erected all over this
temple and sometimes the penis statues would be crowned with flowers. It was said that on the wedding day, the bride was
supposed to sit on the image of the Mutunus Tutunus.

Roman Marriage

Sometimes on the wedding night, the husband would not sleep with his new bride but arranged to sleep with another woman.
The Roman state wanted fertility among mothers. Widows were not allowed to remarry. Husbands went out of their way to keep
their own wives locked up like slaves. They deprived their wives of a life outside the home. It was forbidden for wives to
possess money. The legal age for marriage in Ancient Rome for a woman was age 12, whether she had reached puberty or not.
Virginity upon marriage was valued. Roman men were allowed to engage in adultery, but their wives were not. Female sexuality
was entirely defined in their patriarchical value: sex with wives for legitimate children and procreation of a man's children
and prostitutes, concubines and slaves for a man's sexual leisure, rape for power over any woman.

Venus in the Place of Aphrodite

The Romans did have a Venu Victrix or a Venus of Battle. It was a common practice for a half naked girl with her breasts
showing to ride on a horse proceeding the battle. This idea dates back to Ancient Mesopotamia and the Goddess Ishtar.
Venus was also the restorer of life and was said to be able to bring back the dead. Eros, the god of love (Cupid) was
generally depicted at her armside.

Prostitution

We know that like the Greeks, Roman men frequently engaged in prostitution. From writings describing the living conditions of
Roman brothels, we know that they were extremely unsanitary and many prostitutes died living in the brothels because of their
unsanitary conditions. Roman men were also allowed to beat and rape prostitutes who didn't perform the services they wanted
for the prices that they wanted.