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Incontinentia, Licentia Et Libido: The Juxtaposition Of Morality And Sexuality During The Roman Republic, Robert Sharp

James Madison Undergraduate Research Journal (JMURJ)

Sex and sexuality are important elements of the human experience but are surrounded by various taboos. Roman sexuality has traditionally been viewed in a modern context as being licentious and obscene in nature, and seemingly incongruous with the elements of propriety that are expected in an honor-shame culture. What would be considered to be moral, immoral, or obscene in a modern context would not apply to the Romans as we would understand it in a modern context. This paper examines Roman sexuality during the Republic period (509 - 27 BCE) and how they can seemingly exist alongside what can be …