Boyish Charm

Comparative analyses of how homosexuality is portrayed in Ancient Greek and Roman literature in contrast to how we view homosexuality today

Introduction

Pederasty or the romantic relationship between man and boy was a part of both the cultural expectations of males in both Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome.  In both cultures homosexual relationships between men and boys was a part of the male upbringing.  Pederasty was seen more as the adult male taking an adolescent boy under his figurative wing and molding him, teaching him the ways of the world in addition to admiring his youthful beauty.  This mentor-pupil-like relationship, however, went beyond the platonic bounds and into a realm of homoerotica.  Both the Greeks and the Romans perceived attraction to young boys as perfectly normal.  Consummating the relationship, however, was seen as lustful, greedy, self-serving indulgence and was, in most cases, frowned upon.   And although homosexual relationships between women did exist, there is virtually no mention of female pederastic relationships nor mention of adult lesbian relationships in Greek and Roman literature, with the exception of the poetry of Sappho. 

Today’s view on homosexuality differs greatly from that of the Ancient Greeks and Romans.  A pederastic relationship between a man and a boy seen as harmless in Ancient Greece and Rome, are seen as, not only creepy, but simply wrong.  Physically consummating such a relationship is not only viewed as morally reprehensible, but is, in most countries, illegal. 

In this paper, I will compare and contrast the perception of love and homosexuality in Greek and Roman literature to today's perception of love and homosexuality.  

Ancient Greek society on homosexuality

Although the ideals on homosexuality in Ancient Greece varied upon regions, there was still one fundamental commonality amongst the people.  Homosexuality was an acceptable part of becoming a man—one of life’s phenomena.  Homosexuality was an expected phase in male adolescence, just another stage in growing up to be a respected part of society.  Young boys were expected to be the object of an older man’s desire, not necessarily a physical relationship, but sexual in nature.  Young boys were to be admired and pursued by men in a reciprocal relationship of man boy love.  

“The homosexual relationship in Ancient Greece was a strictly asymmetrical affair.  The older, often bearded man (the erastes or “lover”), would actively pursue and conquer, while the beloved boy (eromenos, “the one being loved” usually between the ages of fourteen and eighteen), would resist and in time yield, passively allowing the lover to have his way”  (Sharon 5-6).  

The Greeks viewed homosexual men as strong as well as beautiful.  Homosexual heroes were deemed more worthy of praise than others, especially for dying for their love.  Take the story of Achilles and Patroclus, for example.  According some, Achilles and his cousin Patroclus were lovers.  In Plato’s Symposium, Phaedrus’ portrayal of Achilles as more heroic for dying to save his beloved is typical of how the Greeks viewed the relationship between man and boy.   One main aspect of the pederastic relationship was for the boy to actually be in awe of and look up to the man.  Physically consummating the relationship was seen as a sign of greed or done out of selfish pleasure, not for the sake of the boy.  It is seen as “vulgar.”  In Pausanias’ speech, in addition to calling women idiots, when Pausanias said that “such men…prefer the body to the mind and often choose the dumbest mates they can find, since they are interested only in the physical act itself…” (Sharon 27) he clearly does not believe that the relationship between man and boy is about or should be about sexual gratification, rather it should be about love, admiration and inspiration.  We know from Aristophanes that men who fall in love with other men are “the finest sort” and “are inherently more manly and robust” and were “brave” (Sharon 38).

 Ancient Roman society on homosexuality

The Romans, on the other hand, had no particular view on homosexuality.  Although they were not as open as the Greeks in embracing homosexuality as a part of life, the Romans did not particularly frown upon it either.  Homosexuals simply existed, not until later did the view on homosexuality begin to take a more negative turn.

Although homosexuality in Rome is thought to have originated in Ancient Greece, the relationship was not quite the same.  Adult homosexuality was more of “a master/slave relationship (Wikipedia)”.  Meaning, it was okay to penetrate, but not okay to be penetrated.  However, pederasty was still pretty much part of the adolescent’s education. 

Ovid, however, did not seem to be particularly fond of homosexuality, in particular, pederasty.  In his Metamorphoses, he portrayed homosexual relationships in, not only a comedic manner, but also the homosexuals in his writings often fell to a tragic fate.  An example would be the story of Apollo and Hyacinthus.  Apollo’s lover, Hyacinthus suffered an ill fate, being struck in the head by a discus and it of course kills him.  Apollo then creates a new flower, the hyacinth to commemorate his beloved (Mandelbaum 332-334).

Homosexuality today

Homosexuality is viewed differently today than it was all those centuries ago because it was totally different.  The world is totally different.  The spread of Hellenistic culture throughout the known world included the spread of the preference for the love of young boys, because Athens was the intellectual and cultural center of the ancient world.  The change in perception of homosexual relationships arose from the spread of Christian ideals. 

I wonder if, in spite of the sanctioning of homosexual relationships, especially pederasty in the rise of Christianity that the Hellenistic views on pederasty were really forgotten or unlearned.  Why, then, do we see the incredible amount of incidents of priests—heterosexual, respected men of their community, engaging in, what is inappropriate today, homoerotic relationships with young boys?  This relationship mimics the relationship of that of the Ancient Greek or Roman taking on a young boy, mentoring him, admiring his youthful beauty, exchanging glances, embraces and touches as the man grooms the boy to be a respected part of society.  In a poem, speech or comedy from one of the classic Greek writers, this would sound romantic, ideal, how life was back then.  Today, it is not.  It is child molestation, pedophilia and jail time.    

Today, when I think of homosexuality, I think of two consenting adult males or two consenting adult women in a reciprocal, romantic relationship.  Any romantic relationship involving an adult and child in today’s society is viewed as inappropriate.  Even two consensual homosexual adults are still considered unacceptable and frowned upon.  Where in Ancient Greece and Rome homosexual men had the same rights as heterosexual men, today, homosexual couples are in a constant struggle for equality.  Movies often depict homosexual men as silly, unaccepted by society.  Even movies about Ancient Greece depict homosexuals in an often demeaning manner.  In the movie 300, the king of Sparta, Leonidas took a stab at the Greeks of Athens calling them “boy lovers,” as if pederasty were not prevalent in Sparta as well.  The Spartans, in our view, were the epitome of masculinity.  To portray them otherwise, as say, in the way we think of the Athenians, would be unacceptable. 

Conclusion

Today’s society is not ready to portray homosexual men as anything more than silly, feminine punch-lines in movies.  Have we simply regressed beyond primitive thinking to a new low of homophobia?  Many of the heroes of the Ancient Greeks were homosexual.  Achilles, Hercules—the two most masculine heroes both engaged in homosexual relationships.  Why then are we today, not able to view homosexual men as more than just punch lines? 

WORKS CITED

Mandelbaum, Allen. The Metamorphoses of Ovid. San Diego, New York, London: A Harvest Book, 1993.

Sharon, Avi. Plato's Symposium. Newburyport: Focus Publishing/R. Pullins Company, 1998.

Wikipedia. 8 August 2007. 29 August 2007 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality_in_Ancient_Rome>.

Wikipedia. Heracles. 30 August 2007. 2 September 2007 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heracles>.