What can we really learn about a culture from its artistic depictions of sex? To look at the pottery of the Moche from the north coast of Peru, you would think that these people must have been obsessed with blowjobs. And backdoor stuff. And, well, a whole lot else too. But does this tell us how they got their rocks off? Or is it more complicated than that?

Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Animation by Maxeem Konrardy. Additional credits, references, and more at www.historyofsexpod.com.

References

Turner, Andrew D. “Moche Pottery.” Global Encyclopedia of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer History. 2019.

Weismantel, Mary. “Moche Sex Pots: Reproduction and Temporality in Ancient South America.” American Anthropologist, Vol. 106, No. 3, 2004: pp. 495-496.

Wiley, Heather. “Sex Pots: 50 Shades of Moche.” Culture, Society, and Praxis, Vol. 11, No. 1, 2019.

Woloszyn, Janusz Z., and Piwowar, Katarzyna. “Sodomites, Siamese Twins, and Scholars: Same-Sex Relationships in Moche Art.” American Anthropologist, Vol. 117, No. 2, 2015: pp. 285-301.

Audio Credits

The History of Sex podcast theme music mixed from “Gregorian Chant”, “Mystery Sax”, and “There It Is” by Kevin MacLeod. Short Shorts theme music mixed from “Gregorian Chant” by Kevin MacLeod and “Short Shorts” by the Royal Teens.

Additional music from “Pre-Columbian Style Flute Music – Mochica Trail” by Kevin O’Sullivan.

Image Credits

Moche sex pot from Authenticite.fr