P. Sufenas Virius Lupus (his spiritual name) is a practicing polytheist and scholar. He is author of A Serpent Path Primer, Ephesia Grammata: Ancient History and Modern Practice, The Phillupic Hymns, The Syncretisms of Antinous, and other devotional books. Under his legal name of Phillip Bernhardt-House, he is author of Werewolves, Magical Hounds, and Dog-Headed Men in Celtic Literature. He is on the social science faculty at Skagit Valley College in Mount Vernon, Washington.

Here he points out that, prior to the Victorian era, there were no specific concepts for homosexuality and heterosexuality in western culture. Ancient peoples had many differing notions of sexual identity. Various ancient priestly cult members were regarded as neither male nor female. Sexual relations in ancient times were often based as much upon social status as sexual identity. Lupus describes his own interest in the ancient cult of Antinous, the young male lover of the Roman emperor Hadrian (who was also married and considered something of a lady’s man). After Antinous drowned in the Nile River, he was deified. Many temples were built in his honor.

(Recorded on July 2, 2016)

Published on October 3, 2016