Just to educate, Romans didn’t have an issue with homosexuality as long as there was a clear power dynamic. A Roman man could have sex with a younger, lower status person and he would be looked at as virile. The boy would also not face backlash. However as they grow into adults, the “bottom” would be looked at as a woman or unmanly.
Caesar was mocked as the queen of Bithynia due to a gay rumor between Caesar and the king, but the making fun wasn’t because of the gay act, but because Caesar was rumored to be the bottom.
I’m guessing two Gladiators going at it would not be an issue for anyone as they were slaves and prisoners.
Additionally, Gladiators were extremely sought after as male prostitutes to women of wealth.
For like equestrian and ruling class I would say yes. That was the nice thing about being a pleb, you’re already looked down on so you can just do whatever the fuck you want really lol
I’d imagine overarching social taboos and whatnot were in effect for them too, when it came to sexuality. But we know less of them because average pleb didn’t write about this stuff and nobody else gave two shits to document them.
The western Roman empire lasted about a thousand years, right? So I’m guessing they would have gone through many social norms over time and even had different norms depending on geography and class.
Just to educate, Romans didn’t have an issue with homosexuality as long as there was a clear power dynamic. A Roman man could have sex with a younger, lower status person and he would be looked at as virile. The boy would also not face backlash. However as they grow into adults, the “bottom” would be looked at as a woman or unmanly. Caesar was mocked as the queen of Bithynia due to a gay rumor between Caesar and the king, but the making fun wasn’t because of the gay act, but because Caesar was rumored to be the bottom.
I’m guessing two Gladiators going at it would not be an issue for anyone as they were slaves and prisoners. Additionally, Gladiators were extremely sought after as male prostitutes to women of wealth.
If I remember correctly, being gay in the sense of being exclusively with men was strange to them and socially bad.
For like equestrian and ruling class I would say yes. That was the nice thing about being a pleb, you’re already looked down on so you can just do whatever the fuck you want really lol
I’d imagine overarching social taboos and whatnot were in effect for them too, when it came to sexuality. But we know less of them because average pleb didn’t write about this stuff and nobody else gave two shits to document them.
This is where all the rude and lewd graffiti comes in handy!
Wow, your memory must be really good!
T-thanks
“Ceasar: Every woman’s man and every man’s woman.”
The western Roman empire lasted about a thousand years, right? So I’m guessing they would have gone through many social norms over time and even had different norms depending on geography and class.
Well yeah. But in the time period this film is set in, it was still Roman norm. Homophobia entered later, when Christianity took over.