Roman Orgies: Fact of Fiction?
Today, many associate Rome with degenerate sex parties, lewd festivals, and other XXX events. But what is the truth behind the Roman orgies?
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Roman Orgies: Fact or Fiction?
I would say from the get-go that there are well-documented instances of public and private orgies. So yes, Roman orgies did happen.
Furthermore, some of the Roman Emperors are said to have indulged in practices that would shock even the most liberal-minded readers of today.
Yet, one will be well-advised to place these things in the proper context.
Contemporary Romans of worth employed propaganda to denigrate each other, so don’t take every story for granted. Politics was always a dirty business.
Moreover, later Christian authors might have added their own embellishments to undermine the “old religion.”
Were Romans Depraved Compared to Modern Societies?
I hate to break it to you, but even today, the rich and famous participate in orgiastic parties. Remember Jeff Epstein? The man was pictured in the entourage of influential politicians, mighty billionaires, Hollywood stars, and British royalty. I suspect some of his friends were invited to the parties.
My point is that these things happen in the modern world even if 99.99% of us aren’t invited. It is safe to assume the same was true in Ancient Rome.
While some of those on the very top were flaunting their degeneracy, most Romans never participated in any orgies. Some average Juliuses and Julias undoubtedly fantasized about joining but weren’t invited.
As for group sex, swinger parties, and other private events addressed to ordinary people with atypical tastes, those existed in Ancient Rome as they exist today.
In my opinion, the percentage of Romans engaging in various kinds of sex parties was similar to today. I might be wrong—there are certainly no statistics on the matter—but there is no evidence to suggest that Rome was a millennia-long orgy. Remember, Romans were busy conquering and ruling the world.
Different people had different tastes, fantasies, and proclivities, while most gravitated around the statistical center. That is to say, the majority of the Romans were heterosexual, married, and had a bland sex life.
The main difference between the Romans and the modern Western World rests with the societal and religious attitudes toward sexuality.
Before you read on, please keep in mind that we are discussing a civilization that existed thousands of years ago.
Sexuality in Roman Society
In the early days, marriage and romance were synonymous with kidnapping and rape. The infamous Rape of the Sabine Women speaks volumes in this regard.
In time, marriage became vital in forging family alliances, sharing wealth, and securing inheritance. However, marriage implied fewer sexual restrictions than today.
First, in the pre-Christian period, sexual urges weren’t stigmatized but embraced as not only natural but desirable. After all, healthy individuals, women included, were expected to have appetites.
Second, many citizens owned slaves of both genders. As terrible as it was, slaves weren’t regarded as people but as tools. So, a Roman having sex with his young slaves was akin to using sex toys today. By the way, women were known to exploit their slaves, too.
Lastly, prostitution was legal in Rome. While ordinary prostitutes were looked down upon, using the services of prostitutes was as socially acceptable as having a cup of wine in the tavern. Although the majority of the clients were male, brothels catered to women as well.
During the Late Roman Empire, when Christianity became the dominant religion, sexuality was not exhibited out in the open as much as before. Still, I bet orgies haven’t gone away; they were just less publicized. As proof of this, check out the infamous Banquet of the Chestnuts, held 1000+ years after the Fall of the Western Roman Empire. Let me give you a hint: it involves the Pope, his son, his daughter, 50 prostitutes, and some chestnuts.
Heterosexuality and Homosexuality in Ancient Rome
Romans perceived masculinity a bit differently than we do. For instance, masculinity was associated with domination, while feminity was associated with subservience. Accordingly, the concept of homosexual versus heterosexual wasn’t very relevant for Romans.
It was considered normal for a man to feel attracted to both females and males as long as he was the dominant partner (i.e., he did the penetration). Only the subservient male was looked down upon.
Of course, hypocrisy is not a modern concept, so dominant women weren’t something the Romans encouraged.
Interestingly, lesbianism is seldom mentioned by contemporary authors. Perhaps the men were so busy with each other that they failed to notice. Who knows?
I confess that I can’t really comprehend the fluid nature of Roman male sexuality, but I am not one to judge.
Religious Orgies in Rome
Orgiastic religious practices, rituals, and festivals are as old as humanity. Believe it or not, early humans worshiped the phallus—some religions still do—not only in Ancient Rome but also in places one doesn’t normally associate with lust and sexual passion, such as Japan.
Don’t be so shocked by the genitalia worshipers of the past! Judging by our TV shows and commercials, we are not that different—specific female body parts are exhibited everywhere. Not that I notice such things; I am a happily married man, after all.
The Romans were influenced mainly by the orgia of the Ancient Greeks, such as those associated with the cult of Dionysos.
The Bacchanalia were privately funded Roman festivals dedicated to Bacchus, the god of wine-making and fertility. According to some ancient accounts, the festival was a drinking and sexual orgy, although modern scholars believe things were not as wild as Livy and others suggest.
Conclusion
I know the Romans’ attitude toward sex and their sexual practices can be hard to digest for modern-day readers. However, I believe we shouldn’t be distracted by trivialities. Enjoying a bit of hanky-panky was the least of their flaws, trust me.
In truth, the practice of slavery and the merciless exploitation of fellow human beings, including underaged ones, were perhaps the most reprehensible aspects of Roman society. Not naked women and men drinking themselves into a stupor at religious festivals.
And what else could we expect from people who routinely threw their unwanted newborns into the garbage heap while still alive? Or crucified those who desired freedom or disagreed with the official policy?
Still, let’s not judge them by our standards and values. Those were different times, and people held different values.
Whether we like it or not, Romans weren’t worse than the most enlightened of their contemporaries and were way above the rest.
Compared to the developed civilizations in the East, Romans were ruled by laws, not by the whims of an autocratic ruler; their citizens had rights and weren’t at the mercy of those in power, and their leaders were elected to serve for a limited time instead of being born into a life-long leadership role.
Moreover, Romans washed daily if they could help it; that’s more than some of my roomies from my university years.
To conclude, things are never black and white, and there are many shades of gray, no pun intended. Roman orgies were not as common as one might think and no more so compared to today.
However, the participants were less coy about their sexuality and left ample material for later generations to be shocked about. Lucky us! 🙂
