Exploring Gender Diversity in the Ancient World

Abstract

Explores how binary gender and behaviours of gender were actively challenged in classical antiquity Provides a focus on gender on its own terms and outside the context of sex and sexuality Offers an interdisciplinary approach, appealing to Classicists, Ancient Historians, and Archaeologists, as well as audiences working outside the ancient world, in Gender Studies, Transgender Studies, LGBTQ+ Studies, Anthropology, and Women’s Studies Covers a broad time period (6th c. BCE – 3rd c. CE) and addresses both textual evidence and material culture (vases, sculpture, wall painting) Provides history of gender identities and behaviours previously ignored or suppressed by disciplinary practices Gender identity and expression in ancient cultures are questioned in these 15 essays in light of our new understandings of sex and gender. Using contemporary theory and methodologies this book opens up a new history of gender diversity from the ancient world to our own, encouraging us to reconsider those very understandings of sex and gender identity. New analyses of ancient Greek and Roman culture that reveal a history of gender diverse individuals that has not been recognised until recently. Taking an interdisciplinary approach these essays will appeal to classicists, ancient historians, archaeologists as well as those working in gender studies, transgender studies, LGBTQ+ studies, anthropology and women’s studies.