Although this article only briefly notes the same-sex examples of Egyptian love magic that suggested potential relevance, it's an example of how the specific anecdotes and texts discussed in articles that focus on sexuality need further elaboration to be used effectively in building stories. Brooten's focus is on how same-sex desire was a recognized part of the social landscape in Roman-era Egypt, with the magical texts being used as evidence. This is useful as fictional inspiration, in and of itself. But if one were to plan a story set in that time and place that actually employed a magical working within the plot, then a greater depth of knowledge about the mechanics and social context of those practices is desireable. In general, I might have passed over this article as insufficiently relevant to the Project, but since I actually do have a file folder for a historic romance novel set in the Roman era and involving a character of Egyptian origin... Well, it doesn't hurt to take notes.
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