Die liggaamlike misbruik van kinders as emporium in antieke tye

Abstract

Ancient times were characterised by strict regulations regarding male sexuality, and individuals made no decisions regarding their sexuality. Males were expected to take part in certain homosexual and sodomising rituals at certain times, in the correct company and according to the appropriate rules. Especially those in the highest echelons of society were preoccupied with personal freedom, hedonism and self-centredness regarding the human body and sexuality. In this paternalistic society power was lodged with the male head of the household who had power over everything and everyone, even over the sexuality of others. “Empire” as control of the powerful over the bodies of others was common during ancient times. Youths were placed under the care of older males for pedagogical reasons and bonding, and these included sexual relations. Enslaved youths were also sexually abused, which shows that total dominance creates the foundation of ancient ethics. Rituals played an important role in these times and initiation rituals were used to recruit youths. Sexual relations where one partner was dominant and the other submissive were commonplace. Fathers also had power over life and death and children were only recognised as living beings with needs once the father accepted the child. Women were only indirectly considered as vessels of reproduction and satisfaction, and were not allowed to enjoy sexual intercourse. Early church leaders did not react positively to sodomy and regarded it as a sin, but still did not write about it. Ancient times are recognised as an era preoccupied with power – power over everyone and everything – even sex. This article looks at “empire” from this perspective of exercising power over the bodies of the young.

Antieke tye was ʼn tydperk waar streng voorskrifte aangaande manlike seksualiteit gegeld het en daar geen individuele besluite geneem is nie. Manlike individue moes deur bepaalde homoseksuele pederastiese ervarings beweeg op die regte tyd, in die regte geselskap en volgens die regte reëls. Veral vir diegene wat op die hoogste vlakke van die sosiale strukture was, was persoonlike vryheid, genot en ʼn selfgesentreerdheid aangaande die menslike liggaam en seksualiteit ʼn wyse van bestaan. In ʼn paternalistiese samelewing was mag gesetel in die manlike hoof van die gesin en het hy mag oor alles en almal gehad – tot oor hulle seksualiteit. “Emporium” (empire) as die beheer van magtiges oor die liggame van andere was ʼn algemene verskynsel in antieke tye. Seuns is onder die sorg van ouer mans geplaas vir pedagogiese redes en ook vorming, maar seksuele omgang was nie hierby uitgesluit nie. Slaweseuns is ook seksueel misbruik wat daarop wys dat algehele dominansie die grondslag vir antieke etiek skep. Rituele het ʼn belangrike rol in die antieke tyd gespeel en inisiasierituele is beoefen om die jong seun te werf. Seksuele verhoudings wat dui op ʼn magsverhouding, waar een deelnemer dominant en die ander passief is, was aan die orde van die dag. Vaders het ook die mag oor lewe en dood gehad en kinders is eers gesien as ʼn lewende wese en iemand met behoeftes sodra die vader die kind aanvaar het. Vroue is slegs indirek in ag geneem as instrumente vir voortplanting en bevrediging en is nie toegelaat om seksuele omgang te geniet nie. Vroeë kerkvaders het hulself nie positief uitgespreek oor pederastiese praktyke nie en dit is as sonde afgemaak; tog is daar nie daaroor geskryf nie. Die antieke tydperk word erken as ʼn absolute magsbehepte tydperk – mag oor alles en almal – selfs oor die seksuele. Hierdie artikel kyk na “emporium” vanuit hierdie perspektief van mag neem oor die liggame van kinders.