Homosexuality In Ancient Greece Essay

Expressions of homosexuality were commonplace in ancient Greece. Homosexual practices impacted Greek culture and society, especially in religion, history, and the arts. Poetry was written on same-sex love, philosophers often discussed issues regarding male love, tragedies and comedies revolved around gay protagonists, vases and statues highlighted homosexual relationships and famous philosophers, leaders, poets, gods, and heroes were known to be involved in same-sex relationships. Many city-states encouraged certain homosexual practices to meet the needs of the polis. Militaries reasoned with the effectiveness of male lovers as warriors, drawing inspiration from heroes such as Achilles to support the contribution lovers could provide for military morale. The Sacred Band was an army in ancient Greece composed entirely of male lovers, and they were well-known throughout Greece as formidable opponents. Male love was incorporated into all aspects of Greek society, most notably in the military, being epitomized through the Sacred Band of Thebes. Whether
Accounts of homosexuality were found in Greek religion, poetry, literature, theatre, art, and music, however Male love was a theme that appeared repeatedly throughout Greek culture, it was a habit typical of the gods and heroes, and was often celebrated in the arts. Heroes were a revered part of Greek culture; they represented the ideals to which mortal men could aspire, for instance: honour, courage, wisdom, and devotion and provided a link between man and the gods. Some of the most formative heroes of ancient Greece were affiliated with male homosexuality, most notably Hercules, Achilles and Patroclus. Hercules was notorious for his innumerable partners, both male and female. Achilles and Patroclus, the central characters of Homer’s, The Iliad, were legendary warriors whose heroic devotion to each other was a