men’s desire in the Life of Saint Pelagia
Saint Pelagia, the leading actress-dancer of Antioch, was extraordinarily beautiful. Bishop Nonnus’s delight in Pelagia’s beauty inspired holiness. … Read the post men’s desire in the Life of Saint Pelagia
love
anchoresses warding off beastly, devious, desperately importuning men
In the book Ancrene Wisse, a 13th-century English friar instructed anchoresses on dangers of men, figured as beasts, dogs, false friends, and the enemy. … Read the post anchoresses warding off beastly, devious, desperately importuning men
ibn al-Rumi shows dangers of singing slave-girls
Ibn Rumi’s poem about a singing slave-girl highlights the physical and spiritual passion men felt for singing slave-girls in the ancient Islamic world. … Read the post ibn al-Rumi shows dangers of singing slave-girls
Hellenistic epigrams sing sexual allure of old women
Among other such Hellenistic epigrams, an epigram about Archeanassa of Colophon celebrates the sexual attractiveness of old women. It’s probably mythic. … Read the post Hellenistic epigrams sing sexual allure of old women
ibn Sina’s Treatise on Love is about money
Ibn Sina apparently wrote his Treatise on Love quickly and relatively thoughtlessly for a monetary commission. … Read the post ibn Sina’s Treatise on Love is about money