Sexual Violence in History: A Bibliography

compiled by Stefan Blaschke

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Start: Alphabetical Index: Speaker Index: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

First published: August 1, 2026 - Last updated: August 1, 2026

TITLE INFORMATION

Speaker: Isabella Lewis

Title: Masculinity, Sexual Violence, and Violent Desire in the Life of St Lazaros of Mount Galesion, 11th Century

Subtitle: -

Conference: 33rd International Medieval Congress (July 6-9, 2026) - Online Program

Session: 702: Negotiating Masculinity in Eastern Orthodoxy (Organizers: Orlen Crawford and Isabella Lewis, Moderator: Maroula Perisanidi)

Place: Leeds, England, United Kingdom

Date: July 7, 2026

Language: English

Keywords: Medieval History: Byzantine History | Representations: Religious Texts / The Life of Saint Lazaros of Mount Galesion



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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Speaker: Isabella Lewis, Institute for Medieval Studies, University of Leeds

Abstract: »This paper explores sexual desire and violence in the Life of Saint Lazaros of Mount Galesion (c. 11th century), considering how the violent sexuality of monks might be understood within broader hagiographic frameworks of masculine restraint and spiritual discipline. It engages with episodes from the life that foreground tensions between sanctity, embodiment, and transgression, including one in which a monk rapes a girl in his care. To interpret these incidents, the paper will consider how the dichotomy of positive/toxic masculinity is deployed to construct ideal monastic behaviour.« (Source: Online Program)

Wikipedia: History of Asia: History of the Byzantine Empire / Byzantine Empire under the Doukas dynasty | Hagiography: Christian hagiography / Lazaros of Mount Galesios | Sex and the law: Sexual assault