CONNECTION BETWEEN SEX AND POLITICS IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE
Ancient Rome was governed by the rich and the influential people. The Senate was the governing body who were elected by Romans through voting once a year. Sexual behavior in the ancient Rome was evidenced by symbols, images, archeological remains, and sculpture. Sex and politics were related, and both were determining factors in hierarchical political and social positions (Freisenbrunch, 2010).
Sex and Politics
Sex was directly linked to a person's virtue which was ideal for self-discipline. A perfect woman displayed characters of chastity and modest behavior which was a reflection of beauty and self-control. These virtues were fundamental in the determination of a good leader from a group. In Rome, non-sexual activities were linked to sexual behavior like clothing, language, movement and use of space those in power were supposed to be exceptional on their morality and sexuality. Deviant sexual behavior was always discouraged on moral grounds because they upset political boundaries (Punt, 2017).
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Morality was a determinant of political stability and progress. The political crisis in the empire was perceived to be as a result of falling for sexual sin which was a threat to the strength of a nation. Immoral Sexual behavior was an effect of idolatry as it was stereotyped to be a means of prosperity (Punt, 2017). In situations of sexual misconduct, the censors, who were the highest ranked officials, had the duty of removing the perpetrator from the Senate. According to Freisenbrunch (2010), some people used sex as a benchmark for masculinity in leadership. The empire had a patriarchal system in which the roles of men in the system emphasized on active manhood as the basis for execution of full power. However, a culture for establishing control of sexual behavior was later accepted in a wide range of society. There was a connection between effeminacy, sexual perception and uncontrolled greed for power. Same gender sex was also practiced on the ground of political masculinity.
References
Freisenbrunch, A. (2010). Caesars' Wives: Sex, Power and Politics in The Roman Empire. New York: Free Press.
Punt, J. (2017, Augustt 2017). Religion ,Sex and Politics: Scripting connections in Rome. HTS VOL 73, No. 4 .
