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purple motes

Artifacts to help you imagine more.

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  • Abelard castrated
  • Byzantine wife saves husband
  • Amphitryon & Geta duped
  • Chastelaine de Vergi tragedy
  • Aristotle’s advice to Alexander
  • Empress Theodora: woman leader
  • Tristan & Isuet
  • Xanthippe & Socrates
  • New Modern Sexism Scale

Baiae

The Baiae, also known as Two Books of Hendecasyllables are a collection of 71 poems by the eminent fifteenth-century scholar-poet and scientist Giovanni Gioviano Pontano. Born in Umbria, Italy in 1429 (others say 1426), Pontano spent most of his life in the Kingdom of Naples. There he served in high offices, including tutor to the sons of the King of Naples, Alfonso V of Aragon. He was an influential intellectual who led what came to be known as the Accademia Pontaniana. That learned academy carried on the humanism and classical scholarship well represented in the work of the medieval church official Poggio Bracciolini. Pontano, who died in 1503, wrote the Baiae in the last thirty years of his life.

The Baiae are in an eleven-syllable meter known as the Phalaecium. That’s a meter that Catullus commonly used. The poems were first published in 1505. They display a tolerant, humanistic, and welcoming view of men’s sexuality. A central interest is pleasure — the Baiae was a pleasure resort on the coast of Naples. Pontano’s poems particularly show sympathetic understanding of the sexual difficulties of old men and great appreciation for the sexual allure of young, beautiful women.

why can’t men have it all? an alternate life-stages approach

Men can’t have it all. Old men can’t effectively identify as young men. Old men should consider engaging in scholarly study instead of trying to bed women. … Read the post why can’t men have it all? an alternate life-stages approach

other than a dirty old man: Swift’s “When I come to be old”

Jonathan Swift didn’t want to become the dirty old man that he saw in Sir William Temple. Swift’s ability to shift to a revealing perspective failed him. … Read the post other than a dirty old man: Swift’s “When I come to be old”

sexual harassment of men: beautiful breasts in Pontano’s Baiae

Baiae, 15th-century Latin poems from Italy, sing of women’s beautiful breasts. Breasts were women’s bodily attribute most potent in sexually harassing men. … Read the post sexual harassment of men: beautiful breasts in Pontano’s Baiae

Ausonius and Proba on “love is war” and brutalizing men’s sexuality

Ausonius’ Cento nuptialis & Proba’s Cento Vergilianus de laudibus Christi, 4th-century Virgilian centos, challenge brutalizing men’s sexuality. Love isn’t war. … Read the post Ausonius and Proba on “love is war” and brutalizing men’s sexuality