Explanation: In Ancient Rome, it was considered that the exact deed - and one’s place in it - decided the ‘appropriateness’ of a sexual act. Notably, giving oral - including giving oral to a woman - was considered ‘effeminate’ and emasculating. But topping - anally or orally - a man was considered normal, natural, and manly.

… one suspects Roman women were not wholly thrilled about this standard.

Nonetheless, literary evidence and artistic depictions both show that men going down on women still very much happened. To the Romans, sexual taboo of this type was not so much a matter of morality as dignity.

A half dozen jokes ran through my head, and I strongly suspect any of them would start a riot on my ass