Tyrrhenians

Tyrrhenians (Attic: Τυῤῥηνοί) or Tyrsenians (Ionic: Τυρσηνοί; Doric: Τυρσανοί) were names used by the ancient Greeks to refer, in a generic sense, to non-Greek people, in particular pirates. While ancient sources have been interpreted in a variety of ways, the Greeks always called the Etruscans Tyrsenoi, although not all Tyrsenians were Etruscans. The term "Tyrrhenians" was sometimes used by ancient writers to refer to other ethnic groups in central-western Italy, such as the Latins. Dionysius of Halicarnassus stated that the Greeks once called Latins, Umbrians, Ausonians, and others "Tyrrhenians," and that Rome was called a Tyrrhenian city. Quotes It was a law amongst the Tyrrhenians that the women were common property. They took the greatest care of their bodies, and often practised gymnastic exercises together with men and often among themselves; for they considered it no disgrace to show themselves naked. They did not take meals with their husbands, but with any men who happened to be present, and drank with anyone they liked; they were very fond of drinking, and very beautiful. The Tyrrhenians bring up all the children who are born, often without knowing who their father is. When they are grown up, they live in the same manner as those who reared them, often arrange drinking bouts and have connection with all the women they meet. It is not considered objectionable among the Tyrrhenians to have to do with boys openly, whether actively or passively, for paederasty is a custom of the country. And they have so little shame in regard to sexual matters that when the master of the house is enjoying the society of his wife, and anyone comes and asks for him, they say quite calmly that he is engaged in this or that, at the same time mentioning each act of indecency by its name.    When they are with friends or relatives their custom is the following. When they have stopped drinking and are going to bed, servants bring in to them courtesans, beautiful boys, or women, while the lamps are still burning. When they have enjoyed themselves sufficiently with these, they fetch young men in their prime, and let them enjoy themselves with these courtesans, boys, or women. They pay homage to love and sexual intercourse, sometimes looking on at one another, but generally letting down curtains from poles fastened on the beds. They are very fond of women, but find more pleasure with boys and young men. These are very beautiful, since they take the greatest care of their persons and remove all troublesome hairs from their body. Among the Tyrrhenians there are many shops for this purpose and well-trained staffs, as in our barbers’ shops. Persons enter these shops and let themselves be treated in any way on any part of the body without troubling about the looks of passers-by. Theopompus, in Athenaeus XII.517d; FHG, i, 315 (tr. Hans Licht via J. H. Freese, 1932) And among the Tyrrhenians, who carry their luxury to an extraordinary pitch, Timæus, in his first book, relates that the female servants wait on the men in a state of nudity. Timaeus, in Athenaeus XII.517d; FHG, i, 196 (tr. C. D. Yonge, 1854) External links Category:History of Europe