Ancient Roman Sex as Power: Historian Esmé Louise James on Status, Desire, and Julius Caesar
In a recent conversation with Freitag, Esmé Louise James, a sex historian from Melbourne, explores how ancient Roman sexuality served as a means of asserting power and social standing, a phenomenon that Julius Caesar encountered firsthand. Renowned for her TikTok series 'Kinky History,' James employs archival materials to illustrate how sexual behaviors signified dominance and established political hierarchies. This dialogue, inspired by historian Jean Menzies' piece in The Guardian, reveals the societal constraints on female desire, often branding women as 'nymphomaniacs' for straying from accepted behaviors. Additionally, James discusses the historical 'orgasm gap' and societal fears regarding female sexuality, referencing evidence of queer relationships in ancient Rome shaped by class and gender norms. The complete interview is featured in the latest edition of Freitag.
Key facts
- Esmé Louise James is a sex historian from Melbourne, Australia.
- James runs the TikTok series 'Kinky History' about historical sexuality.
- The interview was published in the German weekly Freitag.
- Jean Menzies wrote an article on women's sexual control in antiquity, first in The Guardian, then in Freitag.
- James argues ancient Roman sex was about power and status, affecting Julius Caesar.
- The interview discusses the historical roots of the orgasm gap.
- James cites evidence for same-sex relations in ancient Rome, including literature and legal texts.
- Ancient Roman gender norms still influence contemporary concepts of sexuality.
Entities
Artists
- Esmé Louise James
- Julius Caesar
- Jean Menzies
- Hannah Kaempfer
Institutions
- Freitag
- The Guardian
- TikTok
Locations
- Melbourne
- Australia
- Rome
- Italy