Masculinity in Ancient Greece defined

[guy]

Here is an interesting article on masculinity in Ancient Greece. 

 

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One thing is certain: ancient Greek men were quite liberal in their sexuality. There was no shame in seeking services from prostitutes: for some prostitution was a key aspect of masculinity. There was no disgrace in being involved in extra-marital affairs. Nor was there shame in being aroused by another man (male beauty was divine), especially if that man was a beautiful boy (depending on the period and the polis).

After all, for many Greeks male sexuality was essentially about power dynamics more than about age or gender. In bed, it all came down to two things: active vs. passive. Being submissive, meaning playing the “woman’s part” by being penetrated was the most unmanly thing that a man could do while being the “penetrator” was an act of dominance and power. A “real man” could play only an active role.

Because of that reasoning, free citizen men usually did not openly engage in adult same-sex relationships because of the fear of being publicly labeled as effeminate, since someone was obviously on the receiving end.

“Males in Athens who in adult life willingly submitted to anal penetration were derided as kinaidoi, a term of abuse which had the connotation of effeminacy,” Cartledge says. “Sparta therefore was being quite ‘normal’ (for once) in not employing adult male/male sexual relations in the service of the military - in sharp contrast to the Thebans, who based an entire crack unit, the ‘Sacred Band’, on that convention, though even that lasted only 40 years.” 

 

 

 

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/manhood-in-ancient-greece-battle-blood-and-not-being-a-bottom-1.10787527

Edited May 9, 2022 by guy