“Ipsarum tribadum tribas”: as representações do homoerotismo feminino na antiguidade romana (I AEC - II EC)

Abstract

This dissertation investigates the erotic and affective relationships between women in Ancient Rome, a topic historically neglected in academic studies. In a context where sexuality and gender were commonly treated through biologizing or moralizing approaches, the work seeks to deconstruct contemporary models of sexuality, applying a critical analysis of representations of female sexuality in antiquity. By integrating gender and sexuality theories, especially through queer theory, and considering literary and material sources, the research proposes a more complex and contextualized approach to female homoerotic relationships, surpassing traditional interpretations centered on the penetrator/penetrated model. The dissertation explores how female eroticism appears in ancient sources in a heterogeneous manner, with representations of both violence and subtle affective interactions. Through the analysis of literary sources, such as the works of Roman authors, and material culture, such as erotic artifacts and sculptures, the study revisits the significance of these relationships and proposes new ways of interpretation, questioning historical silences and the normative models imposed by traditional analyses. Based on categories of homoeroticism, gender, and performance, the research also reinterprets the concept of "tribas" and other representations of women with homoerotic postures, proposing that female sexuality in Ancient Rome was not confined to the standards established by Roman morality and Augustus' legislation. By presenting a critical reading of literary and material sources, the dissertation not only expands the understanding of female sexuality in Ancient Rome but also contributes to a more inclusive and plural approach to sexual history, highlighting the complexities of erotic relationships between women and the challenges posed to traditional historiography.