The history of infidelity in ancient cultures

Cheating and infidelity have been problems for humanity and human relationships since creation. Ancient stories record how there were always some who thought they deserved physical relationships outside of marriage. Cheating behavior occurred in both ancient and modern civilizations. Understanding how the behavior was viewed and managed over the years can give you insight and insight into your own struggles with this issue.

When dealing with the topic of infidelity, it often helps to have an understanding of how infidelity was viewed and treated in some ancient cultures.

Modern society did not develop its views and laws on the subject out of thin air. Modern views on society and law developed over time. The foundations of modern views are built on ancient precedents. If you want to make sense of modern laws and customs, it helps to understand their roots. Since Rome and Greece were foundational in terms of Western laws, customs, and civilization, a closer examination of their views gives you a better understanding of contemporary views on infidelity.

Roman history records that one of the factors behind the civil war between Julius Caesar and Pompey was that Caesar had slept with Pompey’s wife. Infidelity in the highest social circles often had major consequences and affected large numbers of people. Although movies like Caligula make Rome seem free for all, marriage was actually held in high regard. Adultery was often something that people fought over. There were regular wild parties, yet the Romans of the early republic held marital fidelity and family in high regard. When the Republic became an Empire, many of the behaviors and values ​​changed to accommodate the influx of people considered “Roman”. Families often sought to keep their family lines clear, which meant fidelity was important to them. The adaptation of other cultures to the Roman world brought with it a decline in the moral conduct of many Romans. Some Romans dealt with this by wanting marital loyalty but allowing occasional immorality. The temple prostitutes were a mixture of religion with sexual debauchery. The mixture of the two allowed the Romans the excuse that they were going to the temple, when their motivation for going was suspect. Yes, immorality was common, but Roman society still saw the need and value of loyalty in marriage, as they knew that strong families and family life were the fundamental foundation of a culture. Their culture had survived for many years and they wanted it to continue. His laws indicate that such morality was still valued by most Romans, although some lived very wasteful lives. Hollywood movies are often not accurate representations of Roman society, especially during the days of the Roman Republic. Roman orgies may sell movie tickets, but that was not how most noble families lived.

In Greek civilization, the hedonistic sexual debauchery portrayed in movies and in many university classrooms was not the standard in the days of free and democratic Greek society. Wasteful hedonism became rampant during the decline and fall of the ‘free polis’, not before. In the days of the free polis (city-state) and democratic society, virtue was emphasized in marriage. Wasteful hedonistic behavior was also not accepted by all levels and classes of Greek society. Although mocked by playwrights and philosophers, the behavior was not part of mainstream Greek society. Yes, they did have prostitutes, but visiting them was often considered seedy. Seedy behavior was considered low class in ancient Greece, as it is in any modern moral society. Ancient Greek plays often portrayed such behavior on stage, however, as in a Hollywood production, there was frequent exaggeration and overemphasis on debauchery. This exaggeration and overemphasis on debauchery often drew crowds to the stages of ancient Greece.

Marriage, like many transactions in ancient Rome, was governed by contracts. Since it was by contract, the laws relating to contracts applied. The concept of Roman contract law is very different from the Biblical/Hebrew concept of covenant marriage. In the pact, the two parties pledge their strength and wealth to each other throughout the generations. A pact was not revocable and lasted until future generations.

A contract is a legal agreement that can be broken when one of the parties does not fulfill their part of the agreement. The terms of a contract are often enforced by law. The duration of a contract is limited to the life of the parties that sign it.

The idea of ​​using contracts to document the arrangement was not new. In Babylonian law, marriages were also required to have a contract. One of the differences between the Babylonian contract and today’s marriage contract was that it was more akin to being a ‘bill of sale’ to the wife, rather than a legal arrangement made between two individuals.

Being governed by contracts, as Rome was, there were a plethora of lawyers in Rome who drew up those contracts. Contracts were essential. Without a contract, the marriage was not legal. For this reason, many people had an almost fanatical zeal regarding marriage lines. They knew that they needed legal legitimacy for their birth. Any doubt about the legitimacy of his birth was a stain on his character. When good marriage lines could be established, one person established his legitimacy.

Under Greek law, adultery was considered a private matter, although its consequences were public. Since the wife was seen as part of her husband’s family, they were her protectors and guardians. The husband (or a member of her family) was allowed to take revenge for the adultery, even to the point of killing. The government did not interfere as the violator of the marriage was trespassing on property that was not rightfully his. The consequences of adultery, including death, were considered “justifiable”.

Under Roman law, when there was an affair of the wife, she lost her rights as a wife. The contract was cancelled, although she was allowed to keep her property that she had from her and her dowry before the marriage. If she contested the ‘divorce’ and she lost to her, she was thrown into the river. This was part of the initial concept of trial by ordeal. Those who floated or swam away were judged innocent. Those who drowned were considered ‘guilty’. This same practice was also common in ancient Babylon, where some of the women learned to swim. Under the law, if they survived, even swimming, they were not guilty.

The idea of ​​public deaths in matters concerning adultery was not new. Under Greek law, murder was considered a private matter and left to the family, as were rape, robbery, and assault. Adultery, on the other hand, was considered a suitable matter for public prosecution. The lover’s murder was considered justified and was commonly a public event. The entire community often gathered to witness the public execution of an adulterer.

Ironically, even in the early Christian church writers during the first five centuries of writing, all but one of the writers agreed that remarrying, even after divorce, was also considered “adulterous.” Adultery was not viewed favorably or tolerated as an acceptable reason for divorce.

Under Roman law, when a woman left her husband, she was considered the property of her father’s family. She was not an independent woman. Roman law also referred to wandering husbands. When a husband had an affair and left her wife for someone else, and he decided not to support her, the wife had new freedoms. So she was free to go out with another man. If the husband returned and when she returned, she was obligated to return to her relationship with him. If she and her children did not return, she was considered guilty of adultery with the necessary trial by ordeal.

Marriage was widespread. Even the Vestal Virgins had husbands. So the Vestal Virgins were not actually ‘virgins’. The only problem with the Vestal Virgins was that they could not have children. When they wanted children, they had to use a maid to give birth. When a woman remained loyal and faithful to her husband, she was considered noble and virtuous. These women were highly prized in ancient Rome.

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