Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society

Episode Summary: "What Made You Ugly In The Ancient World?"

Release Date: November 1, 2024
Host: Kate Lister
Guest: Caroline Vought, Author of Exposed: The Greek and Roman Body

Introduction to Ancient Beauty Standards

In this episode, host Kate Lister delves into the intricate perceptions of beauty and ugliness in ancient Greek and Roman societies. Accompanied by Caroline Vought, a respected historian specializing in classical body image, the discussion navigates through the complexities of how ancient cultures defined and valued physical appearance.

Caroline Vought’s Journey and Research

Caroline Vought shares her inspiration behind writing Exposed: The Greek and Roman Body. She recounts her experience at the Wellcome Collection in London, where her presentation on Ovid captivated the audience, leading her to further explore how ancient Greeks and Romans perceived the human body.

[05:27] Caroline Vought: "The Greeks... recognize this was a constant, ongoing struggle. And it was that struggle that made you virtuous and you needed that virtue to be a citizen, man."

Ancient Greek and Roman Beauty Ideals

Male Ideal: The Composite Perfection

Vought explains that the classical statues we admire today, often seen as epitomes of beauty, were actually composites representing idealized forms rather than realistic depictions.

[07:13] Caroline Vought: "The body looks like the sort of chiseled torso of a 30 to 40 year old. The genitals are the size of a child. So, you know, there's nothing real about this body. It's a composite... an impossible ideal."

She highlights the "spear carrier" statue type, emphasizing its unrealistic proportions—youthful heads paired with more mature torsos and disproportionately small genitalia. This composite reflects the Greeks' pursuit of an unattainable standard of beauty, intertwining physical perfection with moral virtue.

Female Ideal: Fertility and Veiled Femininity

For women, the ideal was often represented as veiled and modest, symbolizing fertility and purity. The Aphrodite of Knidos, noted as the first monumental female nude, stands out as an exception, embodying desire and challenging societal norms.

[12:06] Caroline Vought: "Aha. So the answer's quite complicated... she stands there without any clothes on... but her hands are positioned over her breasts and her pubic area."

Vought discusses how female statues, except for divine representations like Aphrodite, typically depicted women covered up, reinforcing their roles as fertile vessels rather than autonomous individuals.

Perceptions of Ugliness and Social Control

The concept of beauty in ancient societies was inseparable from notions of self-control and virtue. Vought introduces the Greek term enkrateia, emphasizing self-mastery as a societal ideal.

[07:45] Caroline Vought: "It's all about appearing absolutely under control. That means that your genitals in your statues have to be small."

Ugliness was often associated with a lack of self-control or moral failing. This is evident in the contrast between gods like Aphrodite and Hephaestus, the latter being portrayed as physically unattractive to symbolize his association with labor and disorder.

Disability and Physical Deformities

Vought addresses the historical stigma surrounding disabilities, noting that physical imperfections were often linked to moral or societal shortcomings.

[26:21] Kate Lister: "Was there any kind of help or welfare system for disabled people? Is it true that the Romans and the Greeks used to leave babies with disabilities out to die because they didn't consider them worthy of being Roman citizens?"

She acknowledges limited evidence of proto-welfare systems but emphasizes the broader context of human vulnerability in antiquity. Disabilities were highly visible and often misunderstood, contributing to societal perceptions of ugliness.

Cultural Exchange: Greek Influence on Rome

The episode explores how Roman culture was heavily influenced by Greek ideals, especially in art and beauty standards. As Rome expanded, it adopted and adapted Greek aesthetics, leading to a blend of cultural values.

[19:37] Caroline Vought: "They make version after version of them. And the Aphrodite of Cunidos and the spear carrier would originally have been in sanctuary spaces... but in the Roman world, they become garden sculpture."

Roman society both embraced and commodified Greek aesthetics, integrating idealized forms into everyday life while grappling with their implications on Roman values.

The Impact of Christianity on Beauty Standards

Christianity's rise brought significant shifts in attitudes towards beauty and sexuality. Vought discusses how early Christian doctrines contrasted sharply with pagan ideals, promoting modesty and spiritual purity over physical perfection.

[35:26] Caroline Vought: "Christianity gets in the way of this Greek and Roman history and disrupts it and moves it in directions that you could never really imagine."

Christian art began to reinterpret classical forms, often depicting religious figures like Christ in ways that balanced divine inspiration with human relatability, further distancing societal norms from classical beauty standards.

Modern Reflections: Enduring Classical Influences

Vought asserts that classical ideals of beauty continue to influence contemporary aesthetics, evident in modern art and media.

[44:34] Caroline Vought: "They are still there... Beyoncé's 'Apeshit'... classical statues set a benchmark, a way of thinking about beauty that was then very influential on Burke and Hogarth and all the artists we've been talking about."

Despite evolving tastes, the foundational standards established by ancient Greece and Rome persist, subtly shaping modern perceptions of attractiveness and bodily ideals.

Conclusion: Evolving Definitions of Beauty and Ugliness

The episode concludes by acknowledging the fluid nature of beauty standards, both in ancient times and today. Vought emphasizes that while specific ideals change, the underlying human concerns with appearance, virtue, and societal acceptance remain constant.

[30:28] Caroline Vought: "Ideas of beauty change all the time... What would have been an ugly body, an ugly person in ancient Greece, an ancient Rome?... it's changing all the time."

Key Takeaways

• Composite Ideals: Ancient Greek and Roman statues often reflected idealized, unrealistic bodies that symbolized broader societal values.
• Veiled Femininity: Women's beauty was tied to fertility and modesty, with exceptions like Aphrodite challenging norms.
• Self-Control and Ugliness: Physical appearance was intertwined with moral virtue; ugliness often signified a lack of self-mastery.
• Cultural Assimilation: Rome's adoption of Greek aesthetics highlights the enduring influence of classical ideals.
• Christianity’s Influence: The rise of Christianity redefined beauty standards, emphasizing spiritual over physical ideals.
• Modern Echoes: Classical beauty standards continue to influence contemporary aesthetics, demonstrating the lasting legacy of ancient perceptions.

About the Guest: Caroline Vought

Caroline Vought is a renowned historian specializing in the body, sex, and gender in the ancient world. She teaches at the University of Cambridge, is a fellow at Christ's College, and frequently speaks at academic and public events across the UK.

For more on Caroline Vought and her work, visit the University of Cambridge or attend one of her upcoming talks.

Produced by: Stuart Beckwith
Edited by: Tom Delaghi
Senior Producer: Charlotte Long
Music: Epidemic Sound