|
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 selfcentredness
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.
Die liggaamlike misbruik van kinders a 2 s emporium in antieke tye
Opsomming
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. |
