Hermaphroditism in Greek and Roman antiquity

Abstract

Hermaphroditism has largely been considered a subject of mythology and art in ancient Greece and Rome. The reality of this condition and the existence of these individuals has not been examined to the fullest extent. The mythology and artistic representations of hermaphrodites are a reflection of the reality of their existence, substantiated through the various narratives, medical sources, and legal texts. The following compilation of evidence stems from a variety of media including oratory, mythological and religious texts, narratives and histories, legal texts, medical sources, and visual evidence from Greek and Roman antiquity. It is only in examining the evidence together that we can start to understand the condition of hermaphroditism and its existence in antiquity. This evidence demonstrates the diverse connections between hermaphroditism and other aspects of life in antiquity.