Gay roman emperors
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Alexander the Great
King of Macedonia, empire builder, and one of the greatest military geniuses of all time, Alexander the Great amassed many achievements in his short life. A distraught Hadrian ‘wept like a woman’ over his lost love and ordered that Antinous be regarded as a literal god. But Augustus may have been over-compensating for the swirl of LGBT related rumours and accusations that dogged his youth.
Augustus was known as Octavian before becoming emperor.
And not just any man: his squeeze was said to have been King Nicomedes IV of Bithynia, an ancient kingdom located in modern-day Turkey.
Understanding this context is crucial to appreciating the complexities of Roman sexual views, the shifting roles of dominance and submission, and how they shaped individuals’ lives, including even the most influential figures in Roman history.
So, Was every Roman Emperor gay?
Evaluating the sexual orientations of Roman emperors through a modern lens is challenging due to limited historical sources and evolving definitions of sexuality.
For instance, he was once informed that a Roman actor called Stephanio was parading around the streets with a page-boy who it turned out was a married woman with her hair cut short.
Antinous born a slave, freed, and lived as the lover of Hadrian. Something an elite Roman would find unforgivable.
Hephaestion, a Macedonian general, was so intensely close to Alexander that their friendship was compared to the bond between legendary Greek heroes Achilles and Patroclus.
From Trajan’s enigmatic sexuality to Hadrian’s profound connection with Antinous, and Elagabalus’s defiance of conventions, these emperors challenge our understanding of the past.
Gay Roman Emperors – Ancient Taboos vs Modern Perspectives
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Step into the captivating world of Gay Roman Emperors – a historical tapestry woven with intrigue, passion, and political finesse. But the ideal was an older, richer, man in a dominant role with a younger, lower social rank individual who took a passive role.
Excessive indulgence was criticized as a sign of weakness, potentially compromising the perceived strength and essence of the Roman spirit. The scandalised Augustus had Stephanio whipped in three of Rome’s main theatres – those built by Pompey, Marcellus, and Balbus.
His actions, while groundbreaking in their defiance, proved too much for the Roman power structure.
The death of Elagabalus
At the young age of 18, Elagabalus’s reign was abruptly cut short by assassination.
That’s because of the remarkable artwork on their joint tomb, which seems to sideline their wives and emphasise a romantic intimacy between the men.
It was socially acceptable for the higher-status man to be in control, reflecting the broader hierarchical structure of Roman society.
Julius Caesar – The Queen of Bithynia
An example that illustrates the impact of these social norms is Julius Caesar’s alleged love affair with the king of Bithynia, Nicomedes IV.
This is uncomfortable for us today – and illegal where it was under age. His rival for political power was the Roman alpha male, Mark Antony. As a young man, the future dictator of Rome spent time on military campaigns in Asia Minor (modern Turkey).
This worship departed from traditional Roman religious practices and foreshadowed his penchant for challenging established norms.
How Elagabalus challenged Roman gender roles
One of the most captivating aspects of Elagabalus was his apparent disregard for traditional gender roles.
However, given the clear affection shown in the art, and given how rare it was for two men of equal standing to be buried together like this, many believe Khnumhotep and Niankhkhnum are in fact the first gay couple in recorded history.
It’s surprising just how many Roman Emperors could be defined in today’s terms as LGBT.
While modern interpretations of classical sources suggest a fluid understanding of gender, it’s evident that Elagabalus expressed himself in ways that defied conventional male identity.
However, as the Roman Empire transitioned toward Christianization, notably under the rule of Theodosius, pagan worship, including the cult of Antinous, faced suppression in favor of the burgeoning Christian faith.
Elagabalus, gay and possibly trans-Emperor
Emperor Elagabalus, hailing from Syria, stands as one of the most intriguing and controversial figures in the annals of Roman history.