Sex and Sexuality in Classical Athens

This book offers a broad look at the sex lives and sexual beliefs of ancient Athenians 479-323 BCE. Within each of the five chapters James Robson focuses on a key area of the sexual life of the Athenians - Marriage, Same-Sex Relationships, Prostitution, Rape and Adultery, and Sex Appeal, Fantasy and Taboo - providing an overview of each topic and an introduction to the scholarly debates that still rage about how the ancient evidence should be interpreted. Access to sources provided in the form of translated extracts from literary works and images from vase painting allows the student to directly engage in these debates. Sex and Sexuality in Classical Athens also addresses a whole range of issues key to our broader understanding of classical Greek culture, such as the power dynamics of sexual desire and sexual acts and the position of women in society. Students will be encouraged to scrutinize the debates and documents and form opinions concerning the ways in which ancient Athenians perceived and experienced their sexual world. It provides a concise and lively introduction to this field of study. It explores major areas of debate. It reflects trends in scholarship. It encourages students to be active cultural historians through the interrogation of primary sources. It includes suggestions for further reading, essay questions, a glossary of technical terms and useful website resources.