The concentration of  Greek and Roman art on the human body has a profound meaning. As a microcosm of the social order, the human body has a valuable meaning – socially, culturally, politically and philosophically. The social roll of mythological gods, heroes and creatures with sexual extremities, as well as men and women in real life, is apparently defined, however, sometimes works of art reveal that things are much complicated then we would expect. Sex in the ancient world has spiritual meanings in connection with the religious experience, as evidenced by platonic texts.

The topics to be discussed during the course will cover issues of:  the worship of manliness; nudity in Greek art and its meanings; Paederastic relationships and its artistic images; the uses of sexual semantics in depictions of Greeks against their enemies; women: mortals and immortals; images of rape in Greek art; violence against women; doubled gender identity in images of goddesses; the use of feminnine beauty for political propaganda; 'sacred prostitution' and Aphrodite.

This course will focus on the different aspects of gender in antiquity, by means of modern studies and ancient sources.