Bisexuality in the Ancient World

Author: Eve Cantarella

First line: No sooner had it emerged from the so-called dark centuries of its history, beyond the period that once used to be called the Greek Dark Age, than Greece began to speak of love: "Once again limb-loosening Love makes me tremble, teh bitter-sweet irresistible creature," wrote Sappho.

Why you should read this book: Sexuality in ancient Athens and Rome was not a cut-and-dry matter, and these peoples left us ample evidence to demonstrate that, for them, bisexuality was a normal state of being. This book presents poetry, graffiti, legal, and medical documents as historical proof of acceptance of sexuality along a continuum. Also implicit in the argument are the details of ancient perceptions of men and women.

Why you shouldn't read this book: You're convinced that any sexual activity occurring outside of a sacred, heterosexual marriage earns you a first class ticket to hell.