I was the one who mentioned my Classics professor. She was an expert on the Roman period And she also knew a lot about the Egyptians. I don't remember what example she used from the Roman period. But she believed that the decline of fixed genders was something that happened when a civilization was nearing its end.
She also said that no doctor could explain to her the difference between a virus and an evil spirit. Very relevant to today's discourse. I wonder if she's still alive. I don't even remember her name. I might have the syllabus somewhere.