Sexual attitudes and behaviors in ancient Rome are indicated by art , literature and inscriptions , and to a lesser extent by archaeological remains such as erotic artifacts and architecture. It has sometimes been assumed that "unlimited sexual license" was characteristic of ancient Rome. In the popular imagination and culture, it is synonymous with sexual license and abuse. But sexuality was not excluded as a concern of the mos maiorum , the traditional social norms that affected public, private, and military life. Roman society was patriarchal see paterfamilias , and masculinity was premised on a capacity for governing oneself and others of lower status, not only in war and politics, but also in sexual relations.

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I have heard so much about this show, and read several threads on here where people were saying it's their favorite show on TV, etc. Well, my wife started hearing from some of her friends how great the show is, and bugged me to put it in the Netflix queue, and we got the first disc the other day and watched it. OK, first off I'll get this out of the way: my wife grew up in Japan, and has about almost zero knowledge of Western history. So, she doesn't know who any of the characters are, and can't keep track of anyone, I had to explain where Gaul was in relation to Italy, etc.
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Imagine the Roman empire, some 75 years before the birth of Christ, and the wife of a local governor addressing a gladiator. Tacitus it is not. As well as full-frontal nudity, Spartacus: Blood and Sand features scenes of extreme gore.
Home Explore the BBC. This page has been archived and is no longer updated. Find out more about page archiving. Your Reviews You sent in your comments about Episode, read a selection below. Kevin McKidd and Ray Stevenson make an excellent duo.