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History of Sex
History
and sex intertwine almost to the point of evolution. But there are some
better and less accidental justifications for such an emphasis on sex.
Sex took center stage in many ancient cultures. Epic narratives
and chronicles tell us of warriors turned heroes and prostitutes as
beholders. Decorations likewise ceramics depicted regular life moments
with plenty of sex innuendoes in that men and mythological
creatures mingled in mesmerizing orgies. In relation to togging,
history has it that Egyptians worn rather loose seeing through
garments to ward off from extreme heat. The Egyptian women customized
make up wearing, which was later adopted by other civilizations. Their
notions of aesthetics sprang out all over the Mediterranean region
followed suit mostly by upper class Roman citizens.
Nudity was held in such high regards and bisexuality viewed with
leniency by the ancient Greeks.
Rome, by and large, was known for its strong views on nudity and
prostitution. And yet, prostitution got institutionalized attracting
women from all walks of life.
The Romans had their orgiastic Saturnalia taken to extremes becoming so
violent and luscious to the point of prohibition. It took place at the
wake of Christianity. In fact, Christianity came along by incorporating
rites and ceremonies from established Roman religion services. There
were theoretical elements in the subjection of women and a large
contribution was made to them by the Church. In part this was a matter
of its traditionally hostile stance towards sex. Its
teaching had never been able to find any justification for sex
except the link with reproduction of the species.
Virginity was of little value before the Middle Ages. It’s believed that
it began to gain importance between the IV and XV centuries. It’s then
that nobility members began to attribute values of economic and
commercial trading. Merchants in turn would pay dowry, so as to claim
commodities purchase integrity. Virginity consequently gained momentum
becoming a symbol of status for all social-ranks. The state of
archeological and historical scholarship also reflects and further
explains the concentration of attention on virginity. Religions have had
and still influence in the formation of the human sexuality. The concept
of sin shoveled down our throats throughout so many generations rendered
sex extremely permissive. Millions of people must have been affected by
the changes so far described. Many questions ranging from homosexuality
and masturbation to abortion and contraceptives have suffered with such
transformations and poise cause for major controversy. The importance of
sex nevertheless lies in the way it laid down the lives of even
larger numbers today, rather than its impact in Antiquity.
Anyhow, schools of thought and customs of various peoples played as a
part as decisive in establishing such a code of conduct for the human
sex. Along with the sensorial and climatic elements as the survival
factors of a particular epoch.
Based on that, one may affirm that the history of sex was the net
result of a cultural and ethnical melting pot as well as religious
impingement and financial dominance.
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