Sip & Learn: "Real Men Don’t Scratch Like That

The absurd rules men in ancient Rome had to follow to be considered manly.

Romans had exacting standards regarding how to speak, walk, talk, and act in every way as a proper, manly Roman: these extended into great detail, such as how to scratch your head (not with one finger!). It was so restrictive that even Julius Caesar, among many others, could be successfully accused of unmanly behaviour and conduct.

At the same time, our sources are full of scandalous dancing orators, see-through togas, scented hair oils and more. This lecture will discuss what Roman standards of 'correct' masculinity were, and how they could be manipulated or ignored by a range of ambitious Romans seeking glory and fame.

Dr. Siobhán McElduff is an Associate Professor of Latin Language and Literature at the University of British Columbia, where her work focuses on Roman literature, translation, and the ways ancient ideas are reshaped across time. She is the author of Roman Theories of Translation and the translator of Cicero: In Defence of the Republic for Penguin Classics. Her research has also looked closely at gender, class, and how ideas about the ancient world continue to shape modern culture.