Show Notes
To mark the 1000th anniversary of his death we revisit the bachelorhood of Basil II.
My guest is Mark Masterson — until recently Associate Professor of Classics at Victoria University of Wellington (retired 2025). His work explores masculinity, desire, and male social bonds in the Roman world.
In his book Between Byzantine Men he discusses an oration written in Basil's day which may shed light on his intimate life.
Find out more about Professor Mark Masterson here and check out his two books on male relationships within the Roman world.
Between Byzantine Men: Desire, Homosociality, and Brotherhood in the Medieval Empire Routledge (2022)
Man to Man: Desire, Homosociality and Authority in Late-Roman Manhood The Ohio State University Press. (2014) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from The History of Byzantium
How do you explain your strange interest in Byzantium to your friends and family? I argue that you can't understand the modern world without Byzantium.
I answer the final batch of questions which came in after 1453. They are mostly fun speculation or about me and the podcast.
A discussion with Professor Anthony Kaldellis about how the Romans became Greeks.
This is our last chance to talk about the Crusades on this podcast. So I put listener questions to Dr Nicholas Morton.
I pick the 10 Worst Byzantine Emperors Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.