In an online article, Valentines From Ancient Rome: Sex, Death and Lust; Classicist Comments on Modern Versus Ancient Expressions of Love, Gold examines the ancient Romans' wrenching view of love.
"Love for them was interesting, both to live and to write about, because it was painful, like a disease," Gold says. Roman lovers described themselves as "wounded, wretched, enslaved by their lovers, having their bone marrow on fire and suffering from double vision."
