Anal sex has outlived gods, empires, and prohibitions. A Brief History of the Most Forbidden Pleasure

Anal sex is one of the oldest and most talked-about forms of sexual activity. People have written about it, banned it, mocked it, praised it, feared it, and, of course, practiced it.

Moreover, throughout human history—regardless of era, gender, culture, or religion—people have returned to it time and time again. Why? Because the body is always a little more honest than morality.

The Ancient World: From Myths to Philosophers

If we start with antiquity, it is Greece and Rome that have left us the most evidence. In Ancient Greece, anal intercourse between men was not considered secret or shameful. On the contrary, it was viewed as a special form of spiritual bond—an older man (eromenos) was considered the young man's mentor (eromen), and physical closeness symbolized the transfer of knowledge, strength, and valor.

In Greece, homosexual relationships were not divided into “right” and “wrong”—what mattered more was which role each person played. The active role was associated with power and maturity, while the passive role was associated with youth and apprenticeship.

However, this does not mean that anal sex was exclusively a male prerogative. Women also engaged in it—and, according to ancient authors, often viewed it as a way to avoid pregnancy.

In Rome, things were a little different. A culture of domination prevailed there—a free man could do whatever he wanted as long as his partner was of lower status: a slave, a prostitute, or a young man. The passive role, however, was considered shameful for a citizen. And yet Roman literature, from Catullus to Petronius, is rife with explicit descriptions of anal sex—often in a playful, sarcastic, but by no means taboo tone.

Myths attributed homosexual passions to the gods: Zeus abducted Ganymede, and Apollo loved a number of beautiful youths. Same-sex relationships were also attributed to heroes: Heracles’ lovers were said to include his charioteer, the hero Iolaus’ nephew, as well as Gill, the Argonaut Polyphemus, Abderus, and Sostratus; Achilles and Patroclus were unequivocally perceived and described as a romantic couple during the Classical era (although there are no direct references to this in Homer). It was generally believed that the custom of loving boys was introduced by Laius, king of Thebes and father of Oedipus, who fell in love with the beautiful boy Chrysippus and abducted him; however, Timaeus attributes the introduction of this custom to the Cretans. In Northern Greece, the singer Orpheus turned away from women in favor of men after losing his beloved Eurydice.

Religion and the Middle Ages: When the Body Became the Enemy

With the advent of Christianity, the situation changed dramatically. The early Church Fathers declared that the purpose of sex was procreation. Anything beyond that was a sin.
Anal sex, which does not lead to procreation, automatically found itself among the “deadly” ones.

The term “sodomy” (derived from the biblical city of Sodom) came to be used as a general term for all “unnatural” acts. Ecclesiastical councils compiled lists of sins and the punishments for them—ranging from penance and isolation to burning at the stake.

In the Middle Ages, anal sex was considered not merely a sin, but a symbol of evil, deviance, and even demonic possession. In its records, the Inquisition described such cases in maniacal detail, accusing the perpetrators not only of debauchery but also of “desecrating God’s plan.”

And yet—whether in secret or openly—people continued to engage in it. In monasteries, in royal palaces, and among the common people. As is often the case, the ban only served to heighten interest.

The Renaissance and the Enlightenment: The Return of the Body

As Europe began to emerge from the dark Middle Ages, artists, doctors, and philosophers once again took an interest in the human body.
Anal sex is making a comeback—first as allusions in erotic drawings and poems, and later in medical treatises.

French and Italian writers of the 17th and 18th centuries wrote about him openly and with humor. Nobles at the courts organized entire social gatherings, where they discussed everything the church had forbidden.
But officially—in terms of the law—anal sex was still considered a crime. In England, for example, “sodomy” was punishable by death until the 19th century.

The 19th–20th Centuries: From Crime to Research

The 19th century introduced a new term—“psychopathology.” Doctors and psychologists began studying sexuality, attempting to classify it. Anal sex was no longer considered “diabolical,” but it was still referred to as a “perversion.” Sigmund Freud, for example, saw it as a manifestation of “anal fixation” and linked it to certain personality traits—meticulousness, stubbornness, and a tendency toward control.

At the same time, it was during this period that the modern concept of sexual minorities and the right to privacy first emerged.
After World War II, with the sexual revolution of the 1960s, people began to talk about anal sex without fear.
Medical professionals explained that, with proper preparation, it is not harmful, and psychologists said that there is nothing “abnormal” about it.

The 21st Century: From Taboo to the Everyday

Today, anal sex no longer holds any mystical terror. It appears in movies, literature, scientific publications, and countless online guides. It is discussed by bloggers, doctors, and sexologists, and even educational programs include it as a topic in sexual health curricula.

Modern medicine describes it simply: it is a form of sexual behavior. The key is consent, trust, and safety. Using condoms and lubricant, and being attentive to your sensations—these aren’t “unnecessary details,” but basic hygiene and care for yourself and your partner.

Psychologists add: Anal sex is often associated not so much with physiology as with psychological intimacy. It is an act of trust, control, and vulnerability all at once. That is why, for some, it represents the pinnacle of intimacy, while for others, it is completely unacceptable.

The history of anal sex is the history of humanity’s relationship with its own body and freedom. From ancient temples to church bonfires, from Roman baths to modern bedrooms—it has always been there.
They tried to ban it, ridicule it, and hide it—but, strange as it may seem, the body always triumphs over dogma.

Perhaps this is the main lesson: anything that arises from mutual consent and respect cannot be a sin. And anything that is forbidden too vehemently almost always simply frightens those who are not ready to understand.

Now, here's a question for you. Setting aside morality, religion, and public opinion—what is more important to you when it comes to sex: Physical pleasure, trust, or the breaking down of boundaries? And where is the line between “natural” and “normal,” if the human body always transcends any rules?

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