The History of The Orgy: Politics & Power
Let’s dive deep into group sex! Er…at least its origins and how it was viewed in ancient cultures😉.
GROUP SEX: THE ORIGIN
🌀 Most of us, when we think of group sex (or orgies), tend to picture wild scenes full of excess. A frenzy of moaning bodies, perhaps involving food or extravagant clothing. Even though historical records do back such perspectives, “the meaning of the (Greek) word orgia, from which orgy is derived, is ‘secret worship.’” (Plays Well in Groups, 2013)
🌀 Orgies, for most ancient tribes and civilizations, were a form of RITUAL. “Ritual sex, some scholars believe, marked natural cycles and transitions in certain tribal societies, such as when crops were planted or harvested or when couples were married. It was also purportedly used to attract the attention of the gods for favors.” (Plays Well In Groups)
The political power an Orgy can hold
The history of human beings is a series of convoluted interactions between different groups and societies. Many of these interactions have taken the shape of widespread colonization as well as oppression. Group sex/orgies have been a means to liberation but also exploitation.
⚖ We know now that most ancient cultures had sex for pleasure. Their orgies were acts of sexual worship to the power they felt in themselves and nature, instead of being rooted in the drive toward procreation.
⚖ The Romans held exclusive sex parties and orgies to gain respect and political power. Known to be exceptional entertainers, hosting an orgy could help them “ascend” the proverbial power pyramid..
“Without exception, the worship of sex by all (ancient tribes) originated in the pleasure associated with coitus, and not any clearly conceived notion that intercourse would produce children.”
⚖ Hippie counterculture of the 60s and 70s saw mainstream values challenged by young generations looking to gain more freedom, “battling” for the right to sex for pleasure instead of sex solely as a marital duty.
⚖ When ancient tribes were colonized, we see how taking away practices like group sex also became a mode of political and cultural control. The Marind-Anim are just an example of many in which native worldviews were replaced with mainstream religious values.
This could be wheresome of the stigma towards group sex and orgies stems from.
Learn more about Group Sex by watching our Carnal Theory episode with marla renee steart
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