Sexual intercourse between a married or betrothed woman and someone other than her husband was regarded in all societies as a serious offense, since it compromised the paternity of any heirs. Sexual intercourse between a married man and a woman who was not another man’s wife was not usually considered adultery. Ancient Near Eastern, Greek, and Roman laws were concerned with protecting the rights of husbands and father, and most ancient cultures did not view sexual relations between a married
Volume 1, Page 18