Comparative analyses of sexual allusions as political weapons across time and culture – a new productive field of research?

By Jonas Liliequist, Umeå University

The example of Ericus Olai’s use of allusions to scandalous and abominable sexual practices as a political weapon, invites to comparisons across time and culture. Comparison has however not been an issue for gender and cultural-historical studies of invectives and defamation. The time has come for a change! A further example of the potential productivity of comparative studies is given by a 16th century engraving entitled “Sardanapalus among the concubines” in comparison with Diodorus Siculus classical account.