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Title: Historian Maria Chester Publishes Book Examining Intimacy and Relationships in the Ancient World

London, United Kingdom, 24th Jul 2026 - Maria Chester has published Relationships in the Ancient World: Marriage, Diversity in Unions, and Commercial Companionship. The book examines how societies in Mesopotamia, India, Egypt, Greece, Rome, China, Japan, Mesoamerica and South America approached marriage, romantic partnerships, and adult service trades.It draws on archaeological artefacts, artistic representations and original texts to present perspectives from the periods concerned, rather than relying on accounts shaped by later religious or colonial viewpoints. The publication considers the connections between these aspects of social life and religious practices, including temple-based rituals in several cultures. It also reviews the role of artistic evidence, such as clay plaques, ceramic vessels, figurines, prints and cave paintings, in understanding historical attitudes to the body and physical expression.In addition, the work addresses the effects of subsequent religious developments and colonial expansions on the preservation and interpretation of records relating to ancient cultural practices. The author, who has qualifications in art history and archaeology, presents the material through a global survey of evidence from the nine civilisations covered in the chapters.Key Highlights:Surveys attitudes and practices relating to marriage, romantic partnerships, and commercial companionship across nine ancient civilisations spanning Mesopotamia to South America.Bases its findings on primary archaeological artefacts and artistic sources, including Babylonian clay plaques and Moche ceramics.Examines the integration of intimate practices with religious frameworks in contexts such as Babylon, Greece and the Aztec Empire.Reviews philosophical traditions concerning relatio...

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