The Roman Castrati: Eunuchs in the Roman Empire

This book explores the history of Roman eunuchs, focusing on key texts and individuals, including the Galli, Terences comedy, Sporus and Earinus, the Ethiopian eunuch, Favorinus of Arles, Eutropius, and Narses. It examines gender and the eunuch in the Roman imagination.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 232 pages
Publication date: 19 May 2022
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Eunuchs have often been linked to Eastern courts, particularly those associated with harems. However, the Roman Empire also featured eunuchs who held various roles, including slaves, court officials, religious figures, and free men. This book is the first dedicated to exploring the diverse world of Roman eunuchs. Spanning from the third century BC to the sixth century AD, Shaun Tougher delves into the history of Roman eunuchs, focusing on key texts and specific individuals. The subjects covered include the Galli, self-castrating devotees of the Great Mother goddess; Terences comedy The Eunuch, the earliest surviving Latin text to use the term "eunuch"; Sporus and Earinus, eunuch favorites of emperors Nero and Domitian; the "Ethiopian eunuch" mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles (an early convert to Christianity); Favorinus of Arles, a renowned intersex philosopher; the Grand Chamberlain Eutropius, the only eunuch ever to hold the consulship; and Narses, the eunuch general who defeated the Ostrogoths and restored Italy to Roman rule. Gender plays a central theme throughout the chapters, as castrated males were a distinct group within the Roman society. Ultimately, this book offers a comprehensive examination of both the reality and the imaginative portrayal of eunuchs in the Roman Empire.

Weight: 362g
Dimension: 155 x 234 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350188235