How often did the Romans have sex?

 

Tuesday, May 28, 2024

Romans were pretty open about sex. Their society wasn't as prudish as later Western societies became.

They had a relaxed attitude toward sex, seeing it as a natural part of life.

For instance, it was common for Roman homes to have erotic art, and even the city of Pompeii, frozen in time by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, reveals walls adorned with some pretty explicit murals.

But how often? Well, it varied. Elite Romans, who had more leisure time, probably engaged in sexual activities more frequently.

They often had banquets and gatherings that sometimes turned into wild parties known as convivia.

These weren't just your average get-togethers; they could involve a lot of drinking, feasting, and yes, sometimes sexual escapades.

Interestingly, there's a lesser-known story about a Roman named Gaius Petronius, who was a member of Emperor Nero's court.

Petronius wrote the Satyricon, a satirical novel that gives us a peek into the indulgent lifestyles of the Roman elite.

One of the tales involves a lavish dinner party where guests ended up engaging in some rather risqué activities after too much wine.

This gives us a hint that, at east among the upper classes, sexual encounters could be quite frequent, especially during these social events.

Now, for the common folk, life was tougher and more labor-intensive, so their sexual frequency probably wasn't as high as that of the aristocracy.

But they still had their fair share of fun.

Public baths, for example, were social hubs where people might engage in flirtations and occasionally more.

These baths were a mix of leisure and socializing, and sometimes, the lines between socializing and intimate encounters blurred.

And let's not forget the Vestal Virgins, priestesses of Vesta, the goddess of the hearth. These women took a vow of chastity for 30 years. If they broke this vow, the punishment was severe – being buried alive.

This strict approach to their chastity shows that while Rome was sexually liberal in many ways, it also had strict boundaries in certain areas.

So, to sum it up, the frequency of sex in Roman times depended on one's social status and lifestyle.

The elite probably enjoyed it more often due to their leisurely lives, while the working class had to fit it in around their demanding daily routines.

And with public baths, parties, and an overall relaxed attitude towards sex, the Romans certainly didn't shy away from it.

Cheers to the Romans, who knew how to mix business with pleasure in ways that continue to fascinate us today!