"Kinaidoi," Forgotten F*ggots of Classical Antiquity? (feat. Prof. Tom Sapsford)

Historical Homos

"'Cosmus is a great big cinaedus. He keeps his legs apart and sucks d!ck.' ... I believe that's almost a direct paraphrase."

– Professor Tom Sapsford, quoting Ancient Roman graffiti about my biological ancestors

Kinaidos (or cinaedus in Latin) was the Ancient Greek word for a depraved, unmanly man who liked to get railed. (LIKE MEEEEE.)

Since then, the kinaidos has been used and abused by scholars of classical antiquity for centuries. (LIKE MEEEEE.)

Some say he never existed and is more akin to the Victorian idea of vampires than any modern-day frociaggine.

But my guest on the podcast this week says different, and he literally wrote the book on the subject, so...let's ask him, shall we?

Join me and Professor Tom Sapsford (Boston College) as we trace the history of the kinaidoi, from their first mention in Plato to the peak of their cultural and sexual powers in the 3rd century CE.

Kinaidoi were not "f*gs just like us," to be sure. But they were a well-known sexual and gendered Other in the classical world.

They highlight the pitfalls of telling normative tales whenever we try to understand ancient sexualities of any kind.

Check out Professor Sapsford's book here for more on this fascinating subject!

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Written and hosted by Bash. Edited by Alex Toskas. Guest host: Tom Sapsford.

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