Sexual life in ancient Greece : with thirty-two full-page plates

THE HuMAN FIGURE

woman in undress divested herself of her sense of shame. But Candaules did not give way, and knew how to manage so that Gyges remained concealed in the nuptial chamber and was able to spy upon the queen in the evening when she was undressed.

This is the story told by Herodotus (i, 8) who further informs us that the queen, though aware of the presence of Gyges, was at first unable to say anything for shame. Later, she put the choice before him: ‘‘ Either slay Candaules and become my lord and gain the kingdom of Lydia, or be content to die at once yourself where you are”. Gyges thereupon slays Candaules, and thus gets possession both of the wife and of the kingdom.

That flute-players appeared at private festivals naked or in Coan garments to strengthen the sexual effect of nakedness was stated earlier by Hippolochus (Ath., iv, 129d) in his description of a wedding feast. Thus naked girls, or, according to circumstances, also naked boys were drawn to feasting and drinking bouts in order to strengthen the effects of alcohol and to do homage not only to Bacchus but also to the god of love. Anaxarchus, the favourite of Alexander the Great, was fond of having his wine poured out for him by a beautiful, naked young girl (Ath., xii, 548). As the Stoic philosopher Perszeus, the confidant of King Antigonus, relates (Ath., xiii, 607c), there was once a banquet given by the king at which the conversation was at first very serious and scientific. “ But as the drinking increased among other amusements Thessalian dancers entered the dining-hall and danced stark naked except for a girdle; which pleased the guests so exceedingly that, enchanted, they expressed their approval, sprang up from their seats and declared the king happy in that he could always enjoy such delight for his eyes.” At the wedding of which Hippolochus tells us, ‘‘ naked female acrobats also appeared, who with naked

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