The Politics of Immorality in Ancient Rome (Paperback)
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Short Description for The Politics of Immorality in Ancient Rome A study of why the literature the Romans produced is so preoccupied with immorality.
Full description- Publisher: CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS
- Published: 09 May 2002
- Format: Paperback 244 pages
- See: Full bibliographic data
- Categories: Literary Studies: Classical, Early & Medieval | General & World History | Ancient History: To C 500 CE
- ISBN 13: 9780521893893 ISBN 10: 0521893895
- Sales rank: 937,604
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Full description for The Politics of Immorality in Ancient Rome
This book addresses the question not how immoral the ancient Romans were but why the literature they produced is so preoccupied with immorality. The modern image of immoral Rome derives from ancient accounts which are largely critical rather than celebratory. Far from being empty commonplaces these accusations constituted a powerful discourse through which Romans negotiated conflicts and tensions in their social and political order. This study proceeds by a detailed examination of a wide range of ancient texts (all of which are translated), exploring the dynamics of their rhetoric, as well as the ends to which they were deployed. Roman moralising discourse, the author suggests, may be seen as especially concerned with the articulation of anxieties about gender, social status and political power. Individual chapters focus on adultery, effeminacy, the immorality of the Roman theatre, luxurious buildings and the dangers of pleasure.
