Relative sexual freedom in ancient Rome

Question 1

Who were men’s potential sexual partners in ancient Rome

Answer 1

1. Wife
2. Infames - men or women
3. slaves

Question 2

Explain what is meant by Infames in ancient rome

Answer 2

A person who, because of their profession, held no legal standing in rome
Example include: prostitutes, gladiators, actors

Question 3

What is the condition placed on a man’s sexual relationship with infames in ancient rome

Answer 3

Roman men were free to have sex with non-citizen men so long as they took the dominant role. The dominant role was the person penetrating. If a Roman man was penetrated his virtus could be called into question

Question 4

Who were women’s potential sexual partners in ancient Rome

Answer 4

1. husbands
2. other women - friends/ slaves

Question 5

Explain why a woman’s potential sexual partners were both limited an not, in ancient Rome

Answer 5

She could have extra-marital relationships with other women as there is no penetration involved so pudicitia would not be affected. Therefore Romans weren’t concerned about women refraining from sex with other women.
However women were not allowed to engage in sex with any other man than her husband to ensure that any children she had were legitimate and were born of both of them.

Question 6

What was ancient Rome’s attitudes towards adultry

Answer 6

Roman poetry used adultry as one of its recurrent themes, however, the law stated that it was illegal. One of Augustus’ Julian Laws on marriage contained the punishment for this.

With the exception of men, sex with anyone other than a spouse was considered adultry.

The punishment was strict - both parties in the affair would be exiled to seperate islands and property would be confiscated.

A man who’s wife had commited adultry was expected to divorce her or face prosecution.

Augustus was so keen for these moral laws to be followed he ended up leading by example and exiling his daughter and grand-daughter for this.