Rape in Antiquity: Sexual Violence in the Greek and Roman Worlds [Paperback]

Susan Deacy (Editor), Karen F. Pierce (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 7, 2002

How did the Greeks and Romans perceive rape? How seriously was it taken, and who were seen as its main victims? The leading classical scholars who have contributed to this volume look at the social and legal realities of rape in the ancient world, and also at the numerous myths of rape which themselves may reflect real behavior and attitudes. Modern readers, used to a discourse which focuses on the question of consent to sexual activity and treats an unwilling partner as a victim worthy of sympathy, may find in ancient attitudes much that is disturbing. "Rape in Antiquity" covers topics arranged under six main headings: Athenian legal discourse; Greek myth; Greek art; Greek and Roman drama; Greek and Roman historiography; and Byzantine and Western medieval worlds.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"…provides a rare and sensitive understanding of rape in the ancient world." -- Nick Kochan,

About the Author

Susan Deacy is an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Manchester.

Karen Pierce works for the University of Wales, College of Medicine.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Duckworth Publishers (November 7, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0715631470
• ISBN-13: 978-0715631478
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,480,566 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars one of a kind, June 16, 2003

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V. Phin - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Rape in Antiquity: Sexual Violence in the Greek and Roman Worlds (Paperback)

This slim volume contains twelve essays on rape and related subjects. Don't be fooled by the inclusiveness of the title, however: scholarly works are rarely that broad, and most of these essays deal directly with Classical Athens, moving to Rome only in a few essays, and actually including Byzantium and the Middle Ages, as well. Some of the works are incredibly insightful and paradigm-building; others are horribly written but contain a few pearls, if one is willing to sift through the despair of an English teacher. My personal favourites were the essays by Deacy, Kilmer, Pierce, and Arieti, with a favourable mention for Saunders. Deacy looks into Athena and how she characterized the unmarried (rapeable) virgin; Kilmer focuses on red-figure pottery and its errotic scenery, quite shocking!; Pierce sends us through the New Comedies for a look at the grostesquely amusing; and Arieti not only falls into the nuances of Livy and his portrayal of rape, but introduces a worldview that definitely provokes thought.

This book is not for the faint-hearted. Some of the portrayals are shocking to the modern mind in how ancients react to them. There are some explicit pictures in Kilmer's article, and all of them deal with a very combustable topic: rape. Nonetheless, if you're interested in womens' studies, the nuances of Ancient Greek, or even law and the philosophy of law through time, this is a book you won't want to miss.