Erica Jong, We Didn't Invent Asexuality

Erica Jong's recent article in the Sunday New York Times raised an important question about sexuality in contemporary society:

Is it still there at all?

Is sex less piquant when it is not forbidden? Sex itself may not be dead, but it seems sexual passion is on life support, Erica Jong wrote.

A slew of articles about sexless-ness in American society followed Jong's piece. Many asked: Are we in an age of asexuality?

Sorry to break it to you, folks. We are not the generation to invent sexuality, even if we are more open and that makes things less exciting.

Here are some historical figures, rumored to be asexual, whom we seem to have forgotten about in the Jong-induced din of socio-sexual commentary.