A Note on the Roman Arena and sexual activity in it
Septimius Severus (AD 193-211) banned women from the arena, but before that women fought and even captured tribes were told to fight each other to the last standing, and families were also pitted against each other, especially in rich Senatorial Estates in which this was a legal way to settle disputes of homesteaders and slave families.
The Roman Arena had historical re-enactments featuring 100s of people, but actually were more generally conservative in what was allowed. This was because Gladiators considered themselves, those who were Roman Soldiers, professional fighting men, and loathed making a freak show of "sport" fights. Very little is discussed in academia about "private estates" because they are considered a distinct academic "realm".This is changing. It is usually in the studies of private "mores" that citizen staged combat is mentioned in passing. These events are combined with tales of homosexuality, groups sex and other traditionally defined "deviant" behavior.
Surprisingly, after Rome became "Christian" the more perverse goings on in the arena returned, (no professional resistance), Theodora (Greek: Θεοδώρα) empress of the Byzantine Empire and the wife of Emperor Justinian I herself began life with a stint as a sex athlete. (this probably accounts for the fact that after becoming a Christian, AND well married, she showed little interest in sex at all.)
Yup, half of the show in the Arena was sexual athletics! Think of gymnasts fucking on the trapeze and parallel bars. All the Christian Senatorial Class held their nose at what the crowds liked in the arena, but these boys and girls were popular mistresses and even 2nd wives. Justinian is the most famous "got a crush on the girl in the arena" political celebrity.
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