I used to have a copy of Evans's book The God of Ecstasy but it was stolen by roommates several years ago.
Many scholars are actively examining ancient records for indications of queer sexual practices. I applaud this, but I fear (from a relatively uninformed but cautious position) that some of these scholars might be a bit overzealous to demonstrate that ancient gender bending or same-sex love is the same as modern homosexuality or transsexualism.
As I mentioned above, Greek paederastia (which was heavily tinged with misogyny and male power structures) is a very different animal from modern gay male experience.
Similarly, the gallae were an element of Mediterranean culture for over a thousand years, and they represented different things at different times. In some places and times they lived fully as women and took male lovers and husbands. At other times and in other places they were seen in a more androgynous way and were basically male. Acceptance or non-acceptance of the gallae varied widely, too. There were periods of persecution and periods of acceptance.
Yeah, I know that use of "gallae" is linguistically imprecise. Transsexual or not, I see the gallae as being kindred to who and what I am, and I believe it is a sign of respect to their practice (and their sacrifices) to use "galla" and "gallae."
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Many scholars are actively examining ancient records for indications of queer sexual practices. I applaud this, but I fear (from a relatively uninformed but cautious position) that some of these scholars might be a bit overzealous to demonstrate that ancient gender bending or same-sex love is the same as modern homosexuality or transsexualism.
As I mentioned above, Greek paederastia (which was heavily tinged with misogyny and male power structures) is a very different animal from modern gay male experience.
Similarly, the gallae were an element of Mediterranean culture for over a thousand years, and they represented different things at different times. In some places and times they lived fully as women and took male lovers and husbands. At other times and in other places they were seen in a more androgynous way and were basically male. Acceptance or non-acceptance of the gallae varied widely, too. There were periods of persecution and periods of acceptance.
Yeah, I know that use of "gallae" is linguistically imprecise. Transsexual or not, I see the gallae as being kindred to who and what I am, and I believe it is a sign of respect to their practice (and their sacrifices) to use "galla" and "gallae."