Pederasty: The Role Of Masculinity In Ancient Romans

Ancient Romans had no regard for gender or age when it came to who one preferred to have sex with. A common practice in Roman society resulting from this lack or regard for the age of one’s sexual partner’s was pederasty, a cross generational relationship between two males. The ideal young male partner was in early adolescents, between the ages of 12 and 14 years old. Once the boy began to acquire facial hair and grow a full beard they were no longer considered to be desirable. Once the boy began to acquire facial hair and grow a full beard they were no longer considered to be desirable. Pederasty conflicted with Roman ideals of masculinity because it affected the honor of the boy (the receptive partner). Pederasty was so common in Roman society and so many young boys were being pursued that rules had to be put in place to protect the freeborn roman

Freeborn Roman boys were off limits to adult men. As a result, most pederastic relationships were between Roman adult men and either young slaves or non-Roman boys. Roman pederastic relationships had no educational or social benefits for the younger partner. Pederastic relationships were mostly between master and slaves focusing purely on the sexual activity and not on the courting, like Greek culture. Roman men did not court their young lovers precisely because they believed their virility was based on their masculinity and domination. The process of courting and persuasion did not exemplify power or domination so it would not have been done by the Roman man. Pederast relationships were condemned by the law not because of the age or sex of the partner, but because it hindered the status of the younger partner. Roman society had no qualms about having sex with young boys, but the issue lied with was the masculinity of the young boy being affected by being the receptive