Terry Madenholm

2 weeks ago | haaretz.com | Terry Madenholm

When excavations began at Pompeii in the 18th century, the Roman city frozen in time turned out to be so rich in penis-oriented art that the British antiquarian Richard Payne Knight argued there had been a fertility cult there. Little did he know that phallic representations existed throughout the Roman world in different shapes and forms, from lamps and jewelry to dishes (bon appétit). The Roman penis was the constant subject of artistic and everyday representations.

2 weeks ago | haaretz.com | Terry Madenholm

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1 month ago | haaretz.com | Terry Madenholm

From the earliest of days, everywhere we look, avoiding pregnancy has been mainly the woman's responsibility. In the land of the pharaohs, the ancient Egyptian women fought their fertility with a thick paste made from honey, sodium carbonate, and crocodile dung. This concoction was expected to be placed inside the female reproductive system before intercourse. From today's perspective, we have to think the solution might have been very effective if the lover knew what he was getting into.

Dec 30, 2024 | haaretz.com | Terry Madenholm

The Romans developed one of the most socially integrated slave systems of its time, enslaving tens of millions in three continents and lasting for 500 yearsDec 30, 2024 2:43 pm ISTSend in e-mailSend in e-mail Statue of ancient Roman soldier with prisoners on bridge over the TiberCredit: Spiroview Inc/ShutterstockDec 30, 2024 2:43 pm ISTAccording to Aristotle, some people are born to be slaves.

Oct 20, 2024 | haaretz.com | Terry Madenholm

"Mistresses we keep for the sake of pleasure, concubines for the daily care of our persons, but wives to bear us legitimate children and to be faithful guardians of our households" – Demosthenes, some time in the 4th century B.C.E.There are ten kinds of women, according to the Greek poet Semonides of Amorgos, who predated the statesman and orator Demosthenes by several hundred years, and compared many of the female types to livestock.