Candaulism
Copyright© 2025 by Joe Moose
Chapter 1
Historical
Candaulism is a sexual practice or fantasy in which a man exposes his wife to other men for his voyeuristic pleasure.The term also applies to the practice of undressing or exposing one’s wife to other men, and pressuring or forcing her to have sex with another man or even many other men while he watches.
The term takes its name from Candaules, king of the ancient kingdom of Lydia from 735 to 718 BC. He saw the unconscious naked wife of his bodyguard, Gyges of Lydia.
Forensic and Forensic Aspects of Sexual Crimes and Unusual Sexual Practices by Dr. Anil Aggrawal described cuckolding as “ ... a variant of exhibitionism [where] people do not expose themselves, but their spouses - usually a man exposing his wife.” Such a practice is widely seen as a violation of the trust implicitly placed by a wife in her husband.The term includes the practice of simple anonymous exhibitionism (with and without the woman knowing that she is being seen naked) and also more coercive and impetuous conduct.