CULTURE EDITION
These are queer stories told by queer people familiar with the story of Caeneus, for instance. Our volunteers are extremely talented at bringing that to the fore, writing themselves into the story and referencing what it means for them to place themselves in relation to people who lived 2,000 years ago. It’s much more meaningful than you might expect.” Check out classics.cam.ac.uk for upcoming tour dates and to book your spot right now! LGBTQ+ tours are also available at the Museum of Zoology
space in that story for thinking about male-on-male relationships,” Susanne tells us. “I find it striking that Hadrian doesn’t instruct people to worship Antinous – they do it organically. We’re witnessing how people across the empire became incredibly invested in the emperor’s toy boy, effectively!” Ancient history Through these tours, the ancient myths and legends – the cornerstones of culture throughout western civilisation – are being looked at afresh. By exploring these objects through the full spectrum of sexuality and gender identity, therein lies power. “People often think they know classical myths inside-out, but they might not be
of the Temple of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae. Originally born as a beautiful Lapith named Caenis, theirs is a story of swapping genders for the sake of their own protection. This is just a whisper of the full story behind Caeneus – the whole volume opens a vast and complex window to nuance, offering a wealth of perspective through which to approach its telling. Another standout figure from the collection is Antinous – the young lover of the Roman emperor Hadrian who died under suspicious circumstances after drowning in the Nile. Afterwards, Hadrian deified his lost lover, and statues in his honour were propagated throughout the empire. “He’s one of the most represented people from the ancient world; there’s
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