Performing the Kinaidos: Unmanly Men in Ancient Mediterranean Cultures

The Kinaidos is the first book-length study to explore the figure of the kinaidos (Latin, cinaedus), a type of person noted in ancient literature for his effeminacy and untoward sexual behavior. It examines the presence of this unmanly man in a wide range of textual sources and across numerous locations, and re-evaluates this figure by analyzing the multiple axes of difference through which he gained legibility in antiquity. It also emphasizes the kinaidos' role in the development of the category of the professional performer.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 03 February 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press

The Kinaidos is a groundbreaking book-length study that delves into the enigmatic figure of the kinaidos, a person known in ancient literature for his effeminacy and unconventional sexual behavior. Through a comprehensive exploration of various textual sources, including Plato, Aeschines, Plautus, Catullus, Martial, Juvenal, documentary papyri, and dedicatory inscriptions, Tom Sapsford sheds light on the pervasive presence of this unmanly man across diverse locations, including classical Greece, Ptolemaic Egypt, and the Roman world. By examining the ways in which the kinaidos haunted the binary oppositions structuring ancient societies around the Mediterranean from the seventh century BCE to the second century CE, the book challenges previous debates about his sexual orientation. Instead, it re-evaluates this figure by analyzing the multifaceted axes of difference, such as sex, status, ethnicity, and occupation, that contributed to his legibility in antiquity. Moreover, the book emphasizes the kinaidos' significant role in the development of the category of the professional performer.

The book centers its attention on the numerous descriptions of the specific poetic and dance styles associated with the kinaidos in ancient sources. These include the racy verse meter known as the Sotadean and the rapid shimmying of the buttocks. By integrating these descriptions with the closely related issue of acceptable forms of male social performance in classical cultures, the book provides a rich and nuanced understanding of the kinaidos and his place in ancient society.

In conclusion, The Kinaidos is a pioneering work that offers a fresh perspective on the kinaidos and his significance in ancient Mediterranean cultures. Through meticulous research and analysis, Sapsford has shed light on the multiple dimensions of this enigmatic figure and his impact on the social and artistic landscape of the time. This book is a valuable contribution to the field of ancient studies and will be of interest to scholars and enthusiasts alike.

Weight: 516g
Dimension: 164 x 240 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198854326