Lucian, Dialogue of the Courtesans 5

A dialogue between Klonarion and Leaina. Klonarion asks Leaina about a rumor that the Lesbian Megilla has been loving Leaina like a man. Leaina explains: after a drinking-bout Megilla organized, Leaina shared a bed with Megilla and another courtesan Demonassa. They kiss her and fondle her breasts, and Megilla takes off her wig, revealing a skull as bare as an athlete's. 

Megilla explains: she is in fact a man Megillos, and Demonassa is his wife. He is not a concealed man, like Achilles; he has no penis; he is not a hermaphrodite; nor has he changed gender, like Teiresias. Rather, he was born a woman, but his mind, desire, and everything else is a man's. Leaina can find out for herself.

Leaina agrees after he pleads and gives her a necklace and cloths. He seems utterly satisfied, but Leaina refuses to tell Klonarion what exactly he did.

1) I think this text and Megilla/Megillos in particular are, to my knowledge, pretty much unique in ancient Greek sources. The explanations Megillos rejects are the kinds of things you find elsewhere, along with gender change through castration (like Attis in Cat. 63). The claim to female birth/body but a masculine γνώμη does resemble, I think, some forms of modern transgenderism.

Megillos' request μὴ καταθήλυνέ με ('don't female me') in particular really reminds me of contemporary discourse. It's a kind of language policing around gender identity that feel very similar to a request 'don't misgender me.' 

2) I'm surprised this text survives. The Byzantines must have really liked Lucian to copy this text, when (I imagine) other similar erotic texts were lost. 

3) The text paints Megillos' claims to a masculine identity as unusual. Klonarion has heard a rumor and wants to hear more; in her story, Leaina herself doesn't understand the situation (to pragma) and requires lengthy explanation.

4) Kinda funny that Leaina justifies her knowledge of the story of Teiresias' transformation -- she heard it from a flute-girl, who was telling hearth stories at their place. Maybe Leaina is characterized as not knowing mythological stories (though she knows Achilles on Skyros)? Or maybe she needs to justify knowing this erotic story in particular?

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