Rome If You Want ToLists about customs, rituals, and daily life in Ancient Rome and the Roman Republic, which ruled the Mediterranean from 8th Century BC until its spectacular collapse in 476 AD.
Everyday Objects, Then and Now
What We Know About Prostitution
Everyday Life Was Pretty Disgusting
All About Doing It in Ancient Rome
Picts: Enemy Contemporaries
Real Life as a Roman Gladiator
Choose Your Own Adventure: How Would You Die?
Steamy Scandals in Ancient Rome
The General Who Took Down Spartacus
The Emperor Who Was Conquered
If You Went to the Colosseum
What Hygiene Was Like for Roman Emperors
The Real Commodus Was a Real Dummy
On the Front Lines of Roman Battle
Pop Culture Tropes That Are Totally Wrong
Party Like an Ancient Roman
How They Built the Colosseum
What 'Gladiator' Got Wrong About Roman History
Ancient Rome's Most Pivotal Battles
Moments More Dramatic Than a Soap Opera
Elagabalus, The Teenage Emperor Who Misbehaved
Living in Ancient Rome During Its Golden Age
What Ancient Romans Actually Wore
Romans Who Helped End the Caesar Problem
Enemies of The Roman Empire
How Romans Got So Ripped
What Foodies Were Eating
Weird Foods in Roman Cuisine
Myths About Ancient Rome, Debunked
Pervy Ancient Roman Literature
Good Questions Even Historians Can't Answer
The Greatest Roman Movies Ever Made
Statues of Emperors in Their Original Colors
Great Shows Set in Ancient Rome
Have You Seen the Show Spartacus?
The Best Roman Characters
Weird History
Why Were Hermaphrodite Statues So Popular In Ancient Rome?
Statues of sleeping hermaphrodites have been found in several different countries, different cultures, and different periods but many people have no idea where the trend began and why it became so popular.
Hermaphrodites, or people born with both male and female genitalia, have existed since the start of the human race. They've been treated harshly in the past and are still misunderstood in certain places today. Some were even listed at birth along with animals that were born with deformities in official records, which suggested that they were less than human.
When you see how many of these lovely sensual sculptures were made throughout Greek and Roman history, it'd be easy to assume that they were commissioned out of a new-found tolerance for innate differences. Unfortunately, that was not the case.
Given the importance of understanding sexual orientation in today's society, it's interesting to uncover the complicated history behind these relaxed and reclining hermaphrodites.
Hermaphroditus Was The Child Of Hermes And Aphrodite
Born male, Hermaphroditus is the son of gods Hermes and Aphrodite. According to legend, a nymph named Salmakis falls in love with him and asks the gods to unite her and the object of her affection forever. Her request is granted and the gods merge Hermaphroditus and Salmakis into one being who is both man and woman.
Hermaphroditus is usually portrayed with female legs, breasts, flowing locks, and male genitals. Some historians believe Hermaphroditus is the inspiration for many Greek and Roman sculptors.
The Birth Of An Intersex Baby Was Considered To Be A Bad Omen
According to advocacy group InterAct, about 2% of the global population is intersex, which the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights defines as having characteristics that "do not fit typical binary notions of male or female bodies." In ancient Roman times, intersex babies were seen as bad omens, divine punishments, or signs of misconduct.
They were often executed but some parents concealed their child's intersexuality from state officials to protect them.
It's Possible That There Were Hundreds Of Sleeping Intersex Statues
Over the years, fear turned to fascination and intersex individuals were regularly depicted in both sculpture and paintings. Because nine known copies of the "Sleeping Hermaphrodite" have survived to this day, experts believe there may have originally been hundreds in existence.
Most present-day admirers expect the "Sleeping Hermaphrodite" to have atypical anatomy. But originally, the art viewer was meant to approach the statue from behind, where the curves and shape suggested the figure was female. When viewers moved to the front of the piece, they saw male genitalia.
Indeed, much of the Hellenistic Period art that featured intersex people was meant to be shocking. The ancient Romans seemingly found subverting viewers' expectations to be humorous.
