Disclaimer: The following document fragment is presented from an in-character perspective, it should not be taken as the truth of the setting.
Context: Since someone asked me about the issue of sex and how it intersects with magic, I’ve decided to post two experts that touch upon the topic. In this text, we examine a more serious approach to the matter of homosexuality among mages in antiquity.
During the time of the Secretum’s rise, the attitude towards homosexuality reflected that of Roman society, but not exactly. To fully understand the stance the mages of the time had towards same-sex relationships, several specific factors need to be considered.
Firstly, let us discuss the cultural context magekind existed in during the period. As much as we were always a separate, insular society existing amidst the norma, there was never a time where the social norms of the ungifted did not reflect upon us. At a cursory glance, the Romans seem open to same-sex relationships, but that is not the complete picture. The issue of homosexuality was important only to men, which we’ll discuss shortly, whereas, with women, it was ignored, as expected from a strongly patriarchal society. For men, however, it was a publicly recognised power play between the male lovers. The penetrator asserted his masculinity and proactivity, that is to say, virtus, over the penetrated lover, taking on the submissive, feminine role.
That is to say, Roman society was not accepting of homosexuality in the way we would understand it in our modern times. And this discrepancy also applied to the magekind of that age, with one significant difference. It was commonly accepted that virtus was not exclusive to men.
He who denies a woman’s virtue [virtus] is a fool that should be fearful of every [cup of] wine he drinks.
~Iovita the Sage, Private Journals, I century BC
As such, mages were more willing to accept female homosexual relationships and, just in general, women as the equal of men, as long as they acted in a way seen as “virtuous”, so to say. Publicly, however, relationships between men would be more open and, as such, left a more noticeable trace in written material from the time. That is not to be taken as meaning that sexual or romantic relations between women were less common, only that they were discussed less frequently. This attitude was reflective of the cultural context, as mentioned before.
As his son was not of his loins, it came as a surprise only to those who willfully turned away their gaze that his work was brought to ruin.
~Pomponia or Salernum, I century AD
This perception of female virtus was related to the profoundly ingrained respect mages of the time displayed towards active performers of the craft. Regardless, it is true that great works were still primarily the domain of men, while women took on a more nurturing role towards the next generation, including preparing the heir to take over the father’s work. This dynamic is why the often misunderstood sentiment that the magical potential of a child depended on the mother became so widespread. But this atomic mage family also reflected on same-sex relationships. The reason being, of course, the lack of continuity for the lineage. This notion proved to be a lesser issue for women – such a family unit could still birth and raise children after all. For men, it wasn’t as easy. Though adoption wasn’t out of the question, it was frowned upon, said to produce heirs of lesser magical potential. As such, though accepted, long term relationships between men were frowned upon, much in the same way as celibacy.
Esoteric Musings... 