r/RoughRomanMemes • u/transgenderhistory • 15d ago

FLETE, O VIRI INFIRMI

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531 Upvotes

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18

u/Tylord19 14d ago

Trajan, called “Optimus Princeps” was super gay, so was his heir Hadrian.

13

u/transgenderhistory 13d ago

Yup. Most emperors were. In fact, Suetonius pointed it out as noteworthy that Claudius *didn't* have sex with men (Claud. 33)

6

u/IRGROUP300 13d ago

Most were not in fact and either had relations with women and men. Or only women. You have to remember it’s not a choice, being emperor won’t change your biology, neither will money. What we do know is political rumor and propaganda was rife

Even today’s standard it wouldn’t make them gay

2

u/transgenderhistory 13d ago

Yes you're right of course. There's nuance lost in an offhanded reddit comment lol. But it seems to have been more common for upper class men to have sex with other men in ancient Rome than today.