Aphrodisia

A lively history of women's sex, desire and pleasure in the classical world

'Was sex always the same? Have women always expressed their desire in the same way? In Aphrodisia , Jean Menzies suggests that if history shows anything, it's that there is no one rule to women's desire, except that every woman deserves it. Written with a light touch yet traversing the histories, art and literature of Greece and Rome and unpacking the legacies (and lies) in the history of sex they left behind, Menzies' book offers fascinating insights into women's worlds and desires in Greco-Roman antiquity and beyond.'
- Emily Hauser, Sunday Times bestselling author of Mythica

'Aphrodisia by Jean Menzies is a wonderfully witty and insightful look at attitudes towards female sexual pleasure in Ancient Greece and Rome... Truly fabulous.'
- Elodie Harper, Sunday Times bestselling author of the Wolf Den trilogy

Finally! An up close and personal look at ancient women's sex lives that doesn't treat them simply as a source of scurrilous gossip, but rather as a subject worthy of care and respect. Dr Jean Menzies' study is an indispensable guide to considerations of gender and sexuality in the Graeco-Roman world as they pertain to that unfortunately so often invisible (or deliberately ignored) half of society.
-Dr Jane Draycott, Author of Fulvia and Cleopatra's Daughter

'Aphrodisia is a magnanimous triumph for the study of women in antiquity; Jean's ability to communicate this information in a witty and down-to-earth way makes this a necessary read for all people interested in sexuality and desire.'
-Erica Stevenson, author of The Odyssey Effect

Fascinating, funny and brilliantly informative, Aphrodisia is an eye-opening and joyful read that explores the lives and desires of women in the ancient world. Dr Jean Menzies brings history to life in a way that is inclusive, accessible and truly important.
-Jennifer Saint, Sunday Times bestselling author of Ariadne

Dr Jean Menzies is an author and presenter. In 2020 she won the BAMB Breakthrough Author award for her first book, Greek Myths: Meet the heroes, gods, and monsters of ancient Greece and she is also the author of adult fantasy novel, The Flames of Albiyon , published in 2021. She has a PhD in ancient history with a specialism in the history of women in Classical Greece. She also produces the podcast That's Ancient History.