Resumo:
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.
