Luxorius XII: Gender Roles of Eunuchs

The role of the eunuch (spado) in Roman society was a complicated one; in this poem of Luxorius, we see that eunuchs were bound by strict gender roles. As usual, the poet's tone is critical, but not violent; he is following the same biting style of his predecessors Catullus and Martial.

A young royal eunuch

Dolled up with his golden curls

With roses braided in his hair

Put a headdress* on his head.

Knowing full well that he shouldn’t,

He *knew* what he was doing,

And nobody forced him to wear it,

And he was made worse for it.

Rutilo decens capillo

roseoque crine ephebus

spado regius mitellam

capiti suo locavit;

proprii memor pudoris,

bene conscius quid esset

posuit cogente nullo

fuerat minus quod illi.

--Luxorius XII

Little is known about the life of the Roman poet Luxorius except that he lived in Carthage (modern Tunisia, northern Africa) during the 6th century CE and that his poetry was popular in the court of the Vandal kings. His poetry provides us with rare insight into the changing customs as the Roman Empire transitioned from a polytheistic to a monotheistic society. 

M/M: Money Can't Buy You Love: Luxorius XXXV.1-4

 Although the poet Luxorius is homophobic, transphobic, and xenophobic, his poetry provides great insight into society in 6th century Roman Carthage. Despite the poet's disapproval of the addressee's lifestyle [the last two lines of the poem are offensive and not published here], the fact remains that this poem preserves evidence that same-sex couples continued to live openly in a Christianized Roman society.

The wealth

that your ancestors left for your great-grandfather,

that your great-grandfather left for your grandfather,

that your grandfather left for you,

you’re squandering it all away with lavish banquets and luxurious gifts

to all your "husbands" [maritos], Becca;

the one you’re accustomed to give money to

always just wants more.

Divitias grandesque epulas et munera multa,

quod proavi atque atavi quodque reliquit avus

des licet in cunctos et spargas, Becca, maritos;

plus tamen ille capit cui dare saepe cupis.

--Luxorius XXXV.1-4

Little is known about the life of the Roman poet Luxorius except that he lived in Carthage (modern Tunisia, northern Africa) and that his poetry was popular in the court of the Vandal kings. His poetry provides us with rare insight into the changing customs as the Roman Empire transitioned from a polytheistic to a monotheistic society.