Debauchery

Debauchery

See also Dissipation, Profligacy.

Debt (See BANKRUPTCY, POVERTY.)

Alexander VI

Borgia pope infamous for licentiousness and debauchery. [Ital. Hist.: Plumb, 219–220]

Bacchus

(Gk. Dionysus) god of wine; honored by Bacchanalias. [Gk. Myth.: Howe, 83]

Behan, Brendan

(1923–1964) uninhibited Irish playwright who lived wildly. [Irish Lit.: NCE, 261]

Bowery

Manhattan district, once notorious for brothels and gambling halls. [Am. Hist.: Hart, 97]

Hell-fire Club

18th-century British clique devoted to debauchery. [Br. Hist.: Brewer Note-Book, 411]

Nero

(A.D. 37–68) hated as Roman emperor; led life of debauchery. [Rom. Hist.: NCE, 1909]

Pandarus

a “honey-sweet lord”; go-between for lovers. [Br. Lit.: Troilus and Cressida]

Pornocracy

period of unparalleled papal decadence (early 10th century). [Christian Hist.: Grun, 106]

Rasputin

(1871–1916) debauchee who preached and practised doctrine mixing religious fervor with sexual indulgence. [Russ. Hist.: NCE, 1770]

Saturnalia

licentious December 17th feast honoring Saturn. [Rom. Myth.: Espy, 19]

Satyricon

tales of vice and luxury in imperial Rome. [Rom. Lit.: Satyricon]

Sergius III

instituted the Pornocracy. [Christian Hist.: Grun, 106]

Sodom and Gomorrah

ancient cities destroyed by God because of their wickedness. [O.T.: Genesis 19:1–29]

Allusions—Cultural, Literary, Biblical, and Historical: A Thematic Dictionary. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.