Sex and Sexuality in the Ancient Near East

A study of sexuality in ancient Mesopotamia, Anatolia, and the Levant, using primary sources to explore sexual life, fertility, orientation, and related laws.

This Element examines how sexuality was constructed and experienced in ancient Mesopotamia, Anatolia, and the Levant. Using primary sources, it surveys women's and men's sexual lives, fertility, orientation, and sex-related crimes, showing how scholars interpret this evidence.This Element presents what we know about the construction of sexuality and the sex lives of the residents of ancient Mesopotamia, Anatolia, and the Levant. After briefly introducing the regions and cultures under consideration and the sources of data, the work turns to female and male experiences of sexuality, matters of fertility and infertility, sexual orientation, and finally sex crimes. Primary sources are heavily foregrounded so that readers may understand what the sources of information are on these topics and may see how scholars have come to the understandings that they have.