The debt to Ancient Greece owed by our own society has long been recognised. However, there is another side to the culture that bequeathed us such gifts as democracy, medicine, art and sports, one that does not glitter so much.
Sex and Sexuality in Ancient Greece plunges headfirst into a society that holds very different values to our own, an alien world whose top god committed adultery whilst in the guise of a swan, where Spartan brides were dressed up as boys to consummate their marriage, doctors believed women were inside out men with wandering wombs that attacked their internal organs and Olympic athletes fought literally to the death for the chance to win a crown made of leaves.
It’s time to ask the hard questions: were women really so devalued that they were locked up in their homes, was every man in ancient Athens homosexual and what’s with all the hardcore pornography on everyday crockery?
This book seeks to answer these questions and many others, whilst trying not to flinch as it explores a topic that is both provoking and fascinating. You will never look at Ancient Greece in the same way again.
Sex and Sexuality in Ancient Greece by LJ Trafford is published on 30 May, 2026.
Read LJ’s feature about some of the bizarre facts she uncovered while writing this book.
If you enjoy history, have a look at Historia’s list of books coming out in 2026 — over 130 of them.
