UW Press: Slavery and Sexuality in Classical Antiquity

Slavery and Sexuality in Classical Antiquity
Edited by Deborah Kamen and C. W. Marshall

“A set of detailed, theoretically informed and compassionate studies of the sexual existence of enslaved persons. Using textual, visual, and archaeological evidence,this valuable book builds on and challenges earlier work to illuminate crucial aspects of forms of domination in the long histories of Ancient Greece and Rome.”
—Page duBois, author of Slaves and Other Objects

Slavery and sexuality in the ancient world are well researched on their own, yet rarely have they been examined together. This volume is the first to explore the range of roles that sex played in the lives of enslaved people in antiquity beyond prostitution, bringing together scholars of both Greece and Rome to consider important and complex issues. Chapters address a wealth of art, literature, and drama to analyze a wide range of issues, including gendered power dynamics, sexual violence in slave revolts, same-sex relations between free and enslaved people, and the agency of assault victims.

Slavery and Sexuality in Classical Antiquity reveals the often hidden and contradictory attitudes concerning the sexual identities and expression of enslaved people. These individuals were typically objectified by both social convention and legal description but were also recognized as human subjects, with subjectivity and sexual desires of their own. The contributors provoke valuable and fascinating questions that not only recognize the trauma and struggles of enslaved people but also point to the apparent inconsistencies in the mindsets of the enslavers. The resulting volume expands our understanding of both sexuality and slavery in ancient Greece and Rome, as separate subjects and as they impacted each other.

Deborah Kamen is a professor of classics at the University of Washington and the author of Insults in Classical Athens and Status in Classical Athens.

C. W. Marshall is a professor of Greek at the University of British Columbia and the author of Aeschylus: Libation Bearers and The Structure and Performance of Euripides' Helen.

“This brilliant collection of essays will deepen our knowledge of how slavery and sexuality were inseparable in classical antiquity. Ranging from Archaic Greece to the Roman Empire, this book is full of new insights into the power dynamics of ancient societies.”
—Kyle Harper, University of Oklahoma

“An invaluable addition to the study of slavery in the ancient Mediterranean. . . . Various methodological techniques for uncovering the voices of silenced individuals are employed by the authors, thus creating not only an informative and complex approach to the subject, but also an exemplary model for future scholars.”
—Bryn Mawr Classical Review

“Clearly written, expertly edited, and beautifully produced, it is a book that I hope every scholar of the ancient world will read, from cover to cover. . . . This is a book that many of us have long been waiting for, one which thoughtfully complicates and forcefully challenges traditional narratives and should encourage a paradigm shift in scholarly practice. . . . One can only hope that Slavery and Sexuality in Classical Antiquity will encourage more scholars to turn their attention to ‘one of the most fundamental aspects’ of ancient slavery, and similarly strive to give a voice and a face to the almost-erased.”
—Etruscan and Italic Studies

“An innovative reading. . . . A work of great importance for classical studies and for the history of antiquity in general.”
—Cadmo – Revista de História Antiga

“Overall, this collection marks a significant advance in the study of both slavery and sexuality in antiquity. . . . Since there remains a lot still to investigate on the topic of ‘slavery and sexuality,’ the book urges that such gaps be closed.”
—Gnomon

“The thirteen chapters of the book, divided almost equally between the Greek and Roman worlds, explore the sexual agency of both male and female slaves in a variety of contexts. The contributors successfully illuminate three important aims. . . . The volume shows well why sexuality is an excellent field for thinking about the difficult issue of slave agency.”
—Greece & Rome

“The introduction by Deborah Kamen and C. W. Marshall offers all the readers could wish for, including references to much needed comparative evidence. . . . All chapters are engagingly written. They are examples of nuanced, thorough, and outstanding scholarship. . . . The impeccable editing and the beautiful and effective illustrations add to the value of the book, which is due to become a classic.”
—Journal of Roman Studies

“Admirably diverse in approaches and outcomes. . . . This volume is a valuable contribution to a rich field of study.”
—Phoenix