Lucius Annaeus Seneca
(4 BC - 65 AD) Spain
Philosopher, dramatist, statesman
Stoic philosopher, author of essays and nine tragedies. Born at Cordova, Spain, he studied in Rome, where he began his political career around AD 31. He was Nero's tutor, but lost favour after his accession and was ordered to commit suicide. His tragedies were accepted as classical models by 16th century dramatists.
Among the many discussions of homosexuality in Seneca's work, especially noteworthy are the repeated allusions in the Letters to Lucilius, which focus on a man's loss of dignity following acceptance of homosexual acts, especially oral sex. However Dio Cassius affirms in his Roman History (c. 155) that notwithstanding his ostentatious philosophical virtue, Seneca loved men and thaught his "vice" to Nero.
|