25th Annual Student Research Conference
Female Homoeroticism in the Middle Ages
Melissa W. Kapitan
Dr. Kathryn Brammall, Faculty Mentor
In the Ancient and Medieval world, female homoeroticism was discussed, albeit sparsely. Lucian, Ovid, the Babylonian Talmud, and Paul all reference female same-sex relationships, both physical and romantic. Early Christian writers like Augustine and Clement of Alexandria reference female homoeroticism as well. By the Late Middle Ages, both canon and secular laws reference female same-sex love. Various poems and romances mention women who cross-dress as men and attract the love of other women. This paper will examine how Ancient and Medieval writers or lawmakers characterized female homoeroticism, specifically how they define the sexual acts and romantic relationships themselves.
Keywords:
Topic(s):History Senior Seminar
Medieval Studies
Women's and Gender Studies
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 309-1
Location: VH 1236
Time: 1:00