In History Extra, Emma Mason tells us that a new book will explore the “sexual habits of people in Ancient Greece – from prostitution to pillow talk.” She elaborates, “In Bed with the Ancient Greeks examines homosexuality, pederasty, mythological sex and sex in Greek philosophy and religion.”
The author, Paul Chrystal, expands, “…Zeus, the top god, wasted no time in asserting his dominance over the other gods (both male and female). His cavalier attitude towards female sexuality, as manifested in serial rape and seduction (Zeus raped Leda, daughter of the Aetolian king Thestius, in the guise of a swan; raped Danae, a princess of Argos, disguised as the rain, and raped Ganymede, a male mortal) set a precedent for centuries of mortal male domination and female subservience. The depiction of Hera [wife of Zeus and queen of the ancient Greek gods] as a distracting, duplicitous and deceptive woman opened the door for centuries of male insecurity about women, and misogyny.”
A brief history of sex and sexuality in Ancient Greece.
In Bed with the Ancient Greeks will be released July 29, 2016.
