History of sexuality and cannibalism

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Published: Jun 30, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.32334/oqnfp.2026n58a1114
Keywords:
History of sexuality, Foucault, Cannibalism, Ancient Greek

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Filipe Ceppas
Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ)

Abstract

This text presents and evaluates the relationship between anthropophagy and sexuality in Ancient Greece based on Michel Foucault's History of Sexuality, in dialogue and contrast with the works of Hellenists Jean-Pierre Vernant and Marcel Detienne. The text seeks to explore the questions we can ask today about the relationship between anthropophagy and sexuality, beyond recognizing the power of the vocabulary of devouring as a metaphor for talking about sex. It involves thinking, following the French Hellenists thesis, the relationships of prohibitions of cannibalism and incest as limits of social bonds, indicating, in their incidences in myths and philosophical discourses, the strong link between sexual and dietary codes, beyond the search for balance between body and soul.

Article Details

Issue
Vol. 34 No. 58 (2026): On Imagination: Between Ethics, Aesthetics, and Politics
Section
Other Themes
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References

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