Cretan Pederasty In Greek Society

Pederasty among Greek society was often thought to have emerged from ancient Crete in about 650 B.C. However, later Greeks believed homosexuality arose in order to cap off overpopulation and to institutionalize soldiers. The unique traditions of Cretan pederasty are depicted by Ephorus of Cyme.

“They have a unique custom with regard to love affairs. For they do not win their boyfriends through persuasion, but through abduction. The lover warns the boy’s friends and family three or more days in advance that he is going to carry out the abduction… After giving him presents, he takes the boy away to any place in the countryside he wishes, and those who were present at the abduction accompany them; after feasting and hunting together for two

Interestingly enough, this military preparation often revolved around homosexual tendencies among all males not just the noble class. At the age of twelve boys were consigned to their lovers who were chosen among the best adult men. From their lovers these young boys would learn to be true Spartans for about eight years at which the boy would be considered ready for war once puberty set in. Between age twenty and twenty-two it was believed that the maturing boy was making his transition from “listener” to “inspirer”. Once the Spartan boy was in the position of an “inspirer” he would then take a boy of his own. At the age of thirty he would then marry a girl of eighteen years and would even continue to be the companion of his male cohort even after marriage. It is said that Spartan women were more privileged that other Greek females for they loved girls as well, however only for a short time. It was quite common for Greek men to exercise nude, however, Spartan women have been known to do so as well. Spartan homosexuality was quite admired by all Greeks, it was said to have a noble stature to it. Historical writings can be found during the time of Lycurgus depicting a great nobility of homosexual men. Plutarch discussed Spartan customs accredited to the Lycurgus the

As women were excluded from male society it is only understandable that they too reacted through homosexual tendencies. Love between women was of no interest to society for it was thought to be the worst type of love under both pederasty and heterosexuality. Tribades were thought to be savages, uncontrollable and dangerous kinds of women. Therefore, all there is to know about female homosexuality is gathered from Sappho. She was an educated female who wrote poems to her many lovers. Thiasoi were communities of women that were not only finishing schools but also places where spiritual love took place between women. Male and female homosexuality shared similarities as well as differences. Just as boys were segregated for a time so were girls on border zones on the edges of cities. Boys made their transition from passive to active roles, boy to man, while females mad a transition from the class of virgins to a class of women ready to marry. Young boys were permitted to have relations with adult males however, for girls sexual relations were with their mistresses, or even with another young girl of the same age. For males sex was linked to their educational function in life, while for females sex was a part of their community life. It was not by a means of education that women engaged in sex but rather by a means of freely expressing oneself