tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-731640942406247860.post8480129235836219641..comments2023-12-30T02:17:41.027-05:00Comments on Politics and Sex: Consider AntoniusPat Powershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17546848088853626735noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-731640942406247860.post-77581956790756095322013-01-14T09:33:06.344-05:002013-01-14T09:33:06.344-05:00Thanks for the interesting and informative respons...Thanks for the interesting and informative response, Andrew. The reason I posted was that the quote from the Wall Street Journal annoyed me ... millions of people would read it, and get the idea that Romans thought fucking slaves was disgraceful, whereas they did not according to most sources I have read. I am not sure how the Roman attitudes about sex changed in the post-Christian era, or even that they did. And you're right, some historical perspective is in order here ... the four hundred years the Roman Empire lasted in the West after the birth of Christ is still twice the lifespan of our American democracy, and Rome was around for 600 years before Christ was born.Pat Powershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17546848088853626735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-731640942406247860.post-18014964340520940252013-01-12T11:16:26.451-05:002013-01-12T11:16:26.451-05:00When you talk about the Roman Empire, you have to ...When you talk about the Roman Empire, you have to remember it lasted a long time and spread over a large area - within that customs and morality changed a lot. More time passed between the assassination of Julius Caesar and the Nero burning Rome than between the assassination of Lincoln and the assassination of Kennedy, and that was only the first dynasty of Emperors. So, to say that Romans treated slaves in a certain way is an oversimplification. Laws and customs varied over time. Here's an oversimplification, anyhow. The Roman attitude to sex with slaves was a bit like ours to drinking. It was OK done in moderation, but if you did it to excess, that was considered a sign of weakness. Going to the market and buying a pretty girl for sex might be like being publicly drunk - something showing a lack of judgement in surrendering to base instincts. <br /><br />Also remember that public and private morality might be very different. The Emperor Tiberius publicly castigated Cestius Gallus for being a lecherous old spendthrift, and privately accepted an invitation from him to dinner on condition that the food was served by naked girls. Of course, that story comes from Suetonious, who was the National Enquirer of Roman historians, so who knows how true it is. <br /><br />Roman slaves could own money, property and even slaves of their own. They could receive gifts or payments from their owners or others, ans save money to buy their freedom. There is a very beautiful solid gold armband that survives from those days, inscribed "From the master to his slave girl." the value of the gold would have been more than enough for the girl to buy her freedom has she wanted to...<br /><br />A few years back, archeologists in London found a sale contract for a slave girl. She was sold for 600 denarii (small silver coins). That was two years pay at minimum wage. Money doesn't really translate into modern terms, but the investment was similar to buying a new car. She was sold to a slave who was part of the Roman civil service. He could have probably afforded to buy his own freedom, but he has a cushy job and could afford to buy an imported French slave girl to look after his needs, so why bother? Her name translates as Lucky, and just like a new car, she came with a warranty - money back if she ran away. <br /><br />For some pictures I've taken of modern slave girls, I would be honoured if you would visit my blog at http://misterajc.comAndrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16959550673002457679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-731640942406247860.post-28642281430105159142012-03-27T10:39:06.997-04:002012-03-27T10:39:06.997-04:00Can't argue with that ... thanks for the link!...Can't argue with that ... thanks for the link! Interesting thing is, it's the same women as in the pic I posted, just naked now.Pat Powershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17546848088853626735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-731640942406247860.post-81487635651300532762012-03-25T23:59:18.079-04:002012-03-25T23:59:18.079-04:00Spartacus does get it right (or at least better) i...Spartacus does get it right (or at least better) in other episodes. See:<br /><br />http://www.celebritymoviearchive.com/tour/movie.php/30435Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com