Sexuality in ancient Greece
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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| + | "[[Greece merged into Rome]]; but, though the Romans aped the arts and manners of the Greeks, they never truly caught the [[Hellenic]] spirit. Even [[Virgil]] only trod the court of the [[Gentiles]] of [[Greek culture]]. It was not, therefore, possible that any social custom so peculiar as [[paiderastia]] should flourish on Latin soil. Instead of [[Cleomenes]] and [[Epameinondas]], we find at Rome, Nero, the bride of [[Sporus]], and [[Commodus]] the public prostitute. [[Alcibiades]] is replaced by the [[Mark Antony]] of Cicero's [[Philippic]]. [[Corydon (character)|Corydon]], with artificial notes, takes up the song of [[Ageanax]]. The melodies of [[Meleager]] are drowned in the harsh discords of [[Martial]]. Instead of love, lust was the deity of the boy-lover on the shores of Tiber." --''[[A Problem in Greek Ethics]]'' (1883) by John Addington Symonds | ||
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| + | [[Image:Western face of the Greek Parthenon.jpg|thumb|right|200px| | ||
| + | This page '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is part of the [[Ancient Greece]] series. | ||
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| + | Photo: western face of the [[Parthenon]]</small>]] | ||
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| - | :''[[world erotica]], [[history of human sexuality]], [[homosexuality in ancient Greece]], [[Greek erotica]] '' | + | In [[ancient Greece]], the [[phallus]], often in the form of a [[herma]], was an object of worship as a symbol of fertility. This finds expression in [[Greek sculpture]] and other artworks. One ancient Greek male idea of female sexuality was that women envied penises of males. Wives were considered as commodity and instruments for bearing legitimate children. They had to compete sexually with [[eromenoi]], [[hetaera]]s and slaves in their own homes. |
| - | In ancient [[Greece]], the [[phallus]], often in the form of a [[herma]], was an object of worship as a symbol of fertility. This finds expression in [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] [[sculpture]] and other artworks. One ancient Greek male idea of female sexuality was that women envied penises of males. Wives were considered as commodity and instruments for bearing legitimate children. They had to compete sexually with [[eromenoi]], [[hetaera]]s and slaves in their own homes. | + | |
| [[Homosexuality]], in the form of [[Pederasty in ancient Greece|pederasty]], was a social institution in ancient Greece, and was integral to education, art, religion, and politics. Relationships between adults were not unknown but they were disfavored. [[Lesbian]] relations were also of a pederastic nature. | [[Homosexuality]], in the form of [[Pederasty in ancient Greece|pederasty]], was a social institution in ancient Greece, and was integral to education, art, religion, and politics. Relationships between adults were not unknown but they were disfavored. [[Lesbian]] relations were also of a pederastic nature. | ||
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| [[Rape]] - usually in the context of warfare - was common and was seen by men as a “right of domination”. Rape in the sense of "abduction" followed by consensual lovemaking was represented even in religion: [[Zeus]] was said to have ravished many women: [[Leda]] in the form of a swan, [[Danaë]] disguised as a golden rain, [[Alkmene]] disguised as her own husband. Zeus also ravished a boy, [[Ganymede (mythology)|Ganymede]], a myth that paralleled [[Cretan pederasty|Cretan]] custom. | [[Rape]] - usually in the context of warfare - was common and was seen by men as a “right of domination”. Rape in the sense of "abduction" followed by consensual lovemaking was represented even in religion: [[Zeus]] was said to have ravished many women: [[Leda]] in the form of a swan, [[Danaë]] disguised as a golden rain, [[Alkmene]] disguised as her own husband. Zeus also ravished a boy, [[Ganymede (mythology)|Ganymede]], a myth that paralleled [[Cretan pederasty|Cretan]] custom. | ||
| + | ==See also== | ||
| + | :''[[world erotica]], [[history of human sexuality]], [[homosexuality in ancient Greece]], [[Greek erotica]] '' | ||
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"Greece merged into Rome; but, though the Romans aped the arts and manners of the Greeks, they never truly caught the Hellenic spirit. Even Virgil only trod the court of the Gentiles of Greek culture. It was not, therefore, possible that any social custom so peculiar as paiderastia should flourish on Latin soil. Instead of Cleomenes and Epameinondas, we find at Rome, Nero, the bride of Sporus, and Commodus the public prostitute. Alcibiades is replaced by the Mark Antony of Cicero's Philippic. Corydon, with artificial notes, takes up the song of Ageanax. The melodies of Meleager are drowned in the harsh discords of Martial. Instead of love, lust was the deity of the boy-lover on the shores of Tiber." --A Problem in Greek Ethics (1883) by John Addington Symonds |
Photo: western face of the Parthenon
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In ancient Greece, the phallus, often in the form of a herma, was an object of worship as a symbol of fertility. This finds expression in Greek sculpture and other artworks. One ancient Greek male idea of female sexuality was that women envied penises of males. Wives were considered as commodity and instruments for bearing legitimate children. They had to compete sexually with eromenoi, hetaeras and slaves in their own homes.
Homosexuality, in the form of pederasty, was a social institution in ancient Greece, and was integral to education, art, religion, and politics. Relationships between adults were not unknown but they were disfavored. Lesbian relations were also of a pederastic nature.
Ancient Greek men believed that refined prostitution was necessary for pleasure and different classes of prostitutes were available. Hetaera, educated and intelligent companions, were for intellectual as well as physical pleasure, Peripatetic prostitutes solicited business on the streets, whereas temple or consecrated prostitutes charged a higher price. In Corinth, a port city, on the Aegean Sea, the temple held a thousand consecrated prostitutes.
Rape - usually in the context of warfare - was common and was seen by men as a “right of domination”. Rape in the sense of "abduction" followed by consensual lovemaking was represented even in religion: Zeus was said to have ravished many women: Leda in the form of a swan, Danaë disguised as a golden rain, Alkmene disguised as her own husband. Zeus also ravished a boy, Ganymede, a myth that paralleled Cretan custom.
See also
