 A guided tour through the boudoirs of history. Anecdotes from the author of Pagan Holiday: On the Trail of Ancient Roman Tourists and The Naked Olympics: The True Story of the Ancient Games.
By Tony Perrottet |
Orgy Etiquette Caligula was bald, pale, and hairy. But at his orgies, he could have any woman he wanted.
|
Make-Your-Own Condoms Gold-beater skin. English raincoat. French letter. There were many historic names for the condom, and just as many origin myths.
|
Columbus Discovers the Clitoris Not long after the discovery of America, another Columbus was exploring more uncharted territory.
|
The Curse of Self-Abuse Why does masturbation have a bad rap? Blame a 1712 pamphlet.
|
Horsing Around With Catherine the Great Catherine the Great loved horses. But did one really crush her in the throes of passion?
|
Pornography of the Kitchen In The Futurist Cookbook, F.T. Marinetti argued that food is Art: Less pasta and more sandpaper.
|
When George Met Sally Martha was George Washington's first wife, but she may not have been his first lady.
|
Aphrodisiac Attack Love today is candy and flowers. In the Enlightenment it was rams' testicles and Spanish fly.
|
The Fig Leaf of Florence Critics complained the 'nose' on David was too large. (They weren't referring to his face.)
|
Quick, Jeeves, Cover the Piano Legs! For a time, both America and Britain thought the other was aroused by cabinetry.
|
For a Good Time, Try Revolutionary Paris No need for Fodor's — visitors to 18th century Paris had their own guide to the city's carnal delights.
|
| Ancient Greek Temples of Sex Nothing gets a classical scholar’s heart pumping like the sacred prostitutes of Corinth.
|
Hints of Oak and Witch's Urine? In 16th century Italy, wine tainted by witches' urine called for desperate measures.
|
Scent of a Führer How Hitler's farting problem may have been his undoing.
|
When Syphilis Was Trés Chic In Belle Epoque Paris, syphilis was all the rage.
|
| First Night Jitters For medieval brides, marriage meant a night with their feudal masters. Or so Braveheart would have us think.
|
Sex and the Renaissance Nun In 15th century Venice, nuns knew how to let loose.
|
| The Champagne Glass and the Breast Were Marie-Antoinette's breasts the inspiration for the champagne glass?
|
Good Old-Fashioned Porn Porn as nostalgia. Who was the anonymous genius who invented the stag movie?
|
| Standing up in Court In 16th- and 17th-century France, manhood went on trial.
|
| Why Castrati Made Better Lovers Sex, drugs, and opera. In the 18th century, castration was the fast track to stardom.
|
| Welcome to the Gabinetto Segreto In centuries past, visitors to the grand museums of Europe often had their own private agenda.
|
| |
