A good wife in in Classic antiquity would submit to sex but not enjoy it. The Spartans however had their priorities straight

(Featured in Courrier Japon)

He, she, or ... ? The gender identity of eunuchs was already debated in Greco-Roman times. Castrati triggered curiosity, hate – and, for some, even arousal

(Featured in Courrier Japon)

The inhabitants of the ancient world used various methods to improve their looks, from dead beetles to deadly toxins. But fear the wind, ladies; and the disapproval of society for the shameless

Suicide, the ultimate contradiction to evolution, has been controversial since the dawn of history. Ancient attitudes towards suicide were deeply ambivalent – ranging from outright condemnation to appreciation of the freedom

(Featured in Courrier Japon)

While ancient Egyptians and Sumerians saw self-pleasure as an aspect of divinity, in Greece, masturbation was deemed a pastime suitable only for slaves, barbarians and women. And where do dogs fit in?

I spoke with Kelly L. Wrenhaven, leading researchers on slavery and sexuality in Classical Antiquity

(Featured in Courrier Japon)

Cannibalism is rarely just about eating. It even became a justification used by Western imperialists to explain the enslavement of millions

(Featured in Courrier Japon)

Propaganda is as old as history and although the times have changed, the tactics remain the same. Roman propaganda has more in common with today’s political realities than one might think

I spoke with Noam Chomsky, one of the greatest intellectual rebels

We have something in common with ants: Our wars are driven by the same principle, winner take all. Including, in our case, the human body

I spoke with Francis Fukuyama, the bestselling author and political scientist

(Featured in Courrier Japon)

Confused about what it means to be a man? This article will not help you find the answer. The Greeks developed conflicting ideologies, from the muscle-flexing of Spartans to the astuteness of Athenians

I spoke with Paul Cartledge (University of Cambridge), the leading authority on ancient Greece

Prostitution, the ‘oldest profession,’ was a potent revenue generator for the governments of ancient Greece and Rome and for some, a key aspect of masculinity

I spoke with Sarah Levin-Richardson (University of Washington), the leading expert in gender/sexuality in antiquity

(Featured in Courrier Japon)

Animals should serve less as food for humans and more as food for thought.
Let me introduce you to the surprising History of Vegetarianism

I spoke with Christine Korsgaard (Harvard University), one of the most respected moral philosophers in human/animal relations

(Featured in Courrier International)

Unisex breast milk, really?
The ancients seemed to have remarkable insight into the gender aspect of the milk. Despite the indisputable evidence, multinational baby nutrition companies still provide only unisex baby formula

I spoke with Laurence Totelin (Cardiff University), ancient pharmacology/gynecology researcher

Doll found in girl’s grave from 2,000 years ago in Rome show these toys weren’t just for frivolity. They were meant to prepare girls for maternity at a very young age

I spoke with Nadia Agnoli, the curator at the Capitoline Museum

(Featured in Courrier International & National Geographic)

Graffiti in Pompeii could be usually emotionally charged: 'Cruel Lalagus, why do you not love me?' And guess what’s drawn next to the caution ‘Handle with care’

I spoke with Rebecca Benefiel, the director of the Ancient Graffiti Project at Pompeii

Agathopous, we barely knew ye: Some VIPs marked their boxes with initials but lowlier folk also carved their names onto seats, hoping to ‘book’ room for their family at the bloody spectacles

I spoke with Felix Pirson, the director of the Pergamon-Excavation Project