Article Text
PDF
Statistics from Altmetric.com
Definition of rape
The Oxford Dictionary gives a definition of the word ‘rape’ as: “late Middle English (originally denoting violent seizure of property, later carrying off a woman by force): from Anglo-Norman French rap (noun), raper (verb), from Latin rapere ‘seize’ ”.
This definition shows that rape has meant different things at different times in history. In addition, forced vaginal or anal penetration of an individual with a penis was not necessarily seen as a localised crime, but an event that could cause national outrage and even rebellion.
Roman rape and rebellion
In 509 BC, when Rome was ruled by kings, a nobleman called Lucius Tarquinius Collatinus and his wife Lucretia lived in the king's household. The king at that time was Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, who had a son, Sextus Tarquinius. Sextus deeply desired Lucretia, who rebuffed his attentions; this ended with him forcing himself upon her in a violent act of rape. Lucretia was distressed at bringing dishonour to her husband, who according to Roman law owned her as his personal property, and so she committed suicide. Her body was carried through the streets of Rome, and angry crowds gathered and a great rebellion rose up and banished the king and his family. The leadership void was filled by the founding of the Roman Republic. The raped woman had become a powerful political icon.
Another case within the British Isles was as dramatic in its own way. Around 60 AD, two young girls were raped publicly by Romans in front …