Homosexuality is nothing new
Homosexuality, bisexuality, transvestitism, bestiality, and relations between adults and children have existed for at least as long as humans have been documenting their existence on this earth. Different cultures have accepted and condemned the relations throughout time, and it is important for you to understand that people are as diverse sexually as they are ethnically, racially, mentally, physically, culturally, and personally different.
ancient times
Statues still exist created several millennia ago in ancient Europe of male figures engaging in homosexual intercourse, which some historians have interpreted as rights of passage or religious initiation.
Neolithic Grecian art depicts same sex characteristics in burial chambers.
Fragments of a story written on pottery remain from ancient Egyptian times called King Neferkare and General Sasenet, which alludes to the pharaoh visiting the general at night for romance.
Neolithic Grecian art depicts same sex characteristics in burial chambers.
Fragments of a story written on pottery remain from ancient Egyptian times called King Neferkare and General Sasenet, which alludes to the pharaoh visiting the general at night for romance.
Ancient Greece
The ancient Greeks were one of the most well-known and widely accepting societies that openly practiced, wrote about, and artistically depicted homosexuality. As one of the most well-respected and well-documented societies ever to have existed historically, it is interesting that homophobia (the fear of homosexuals) developed and has remained so prevalent throughout time. What many people do not know is that homosexuality held distinct social status applications based on what role each person had in the relationship.
The noted philosopher and playwright Plutarch once quoted in his Dialogue of Love, "the noble lover of beauty engages in love wherever he sees excellence and splendid natural endowment without regard for any difference in physiological detail". The most common form of homosexual love was between an older man and a young boy, called pederasty. Although many cultures today believe that such a love is wrong and hurtful to the young boy, the ancient Greeks practiced it widely. The older man would protect, educate, be a role model and provide for the young man, while the young man gave the older man his youth, beauty, and often love. The partnership was held in the highest esteem. In 630 BCE on the island of Crete, laws were created marking pederasty as a perfectly legal relationship.
In a symposium (an aristocratic male drinking group), sexual relations between men became the ideal form of love possible to be expressed between two or more people. Since only adult free men had full social citizenship, homosexuality as sex between equal status partners did not exist. If equal status partners were together, one man morally became the submissive partner, and therefore less equal than the dominating partner.
Oral, written stories and art abounded of same-sex relations between gods, heroes, and humans. The famous Greek heroes Achilles and Heracles have been argued to have had a homosexual relationships, since relations as such were quite common in the military forces. Alexander the Great (although Macedonian, not Greek) was bisexual and his Hellenistic Age that was created through his conquering of vast territories viewed homosexuality as a positive thing.
The writings of Sappho, a female Greek poet born on the island of Lesbos, have proven to be a long-lasting testament to love between all sexes equally. The term lesbian (named for the island) and sapphic (love between women) did not actually imply solely love between women until the nineteenth century. Her poems are some of the oldest surviving texts of homoerotic relationships, stressing the freedom to love and care for all people equally.
The noted philosopher and playwright Plutarch once quoted in his Dialogue of Love, "the noble lover of beauty engages in love wherever he sees excellence and splendid natural endowment without regard for any difference in physiological detail". The most common form of homosexual love was between an older man and a young boy, called pederasty. Although many cultures today believe that such a love is wrong and hurtful to the young boy, the ancient Greeks practiced it widely. The older man would protect, educate, be a role model and provide for the young man, while the young man gave the older man his youth, beauty, and often love. The partnership was held in the highest esteem. In 630 BCE on the island of Crete, laws were created marking pederasty as a perfectly legal relationship.
In a symposium (an aristocratic male drinking group), sexual relations between men became the ideal form of love possible to be expressed between two or more people. Since only adult free men had full social citizenship, homosexuality as sex between equal status partners did not exist. If equal status partners were together, one man morally became the submissive partner, and therefore less equal than the dominating partner.
Oral, written stories and art abounded of same-sex relations between gods, heroes, and humans. The famous Greek heroes Achilles and Heracles have been argued to have had a homosexual relationships, since relations as such were quite common in the military forces. Alexander the Great (although Macedonian, not Greek) was bisexual and his Hellenistic Age that was created through his conquering of vast territories viewed homosexuality as a positive thing.
The writings of Sappho, a female Greek poet born on the island of Lesbos, have proven to be a long-lasting testament to love between all sexes equally. The term lesbian (named for the island) and sapphic (love between women) did not actually imply solely love between women until the nineteenth century. Her poems are some of the oldest surviving texts of homoerotic relationships, stressing the freedom to love and care for all people equally.
Ancient rome
The ancient Romans took much of their cultural identity from the Greeks as inspiration of all things good, and therefore homosexual relationships between adult men were perfectly natural as long as the aristocratic male had relations with a slave or male prostitute. The social hierarchy had to be maintained, just like with the ancient Greeks.
Laws were also created to persecute male citizens from taking the submissive role in a sexual relationship with another male citizen, since the social hierarchy was rigid and inflexible in terms of masculinity and citizenship.
Sex was viewed more as a casual practice in ancient Rome, although there certainly had to have been instances where homosexual partners loved each other like the Greeks did. Emperor Nero eventually married his male lover, and many aristocrats engaged in pederasty, symposiums, and other sexual encounters. Love poems, stories, and art abounded in the Roman Empire, and men even married each other sometimes.
Laws were also created to persecute male citizens from taking the submissive role in a sexual relationship with another male citizen, since the social hierarchy was rigid and inflexible in terms of masculinity and citizenship.
Sex was viewed more as a casual practice in ancient Rome, although there certainly had to have been instances where homosexual partners loved each other like the Greeks did. Emperor Nero eventually married his male lover, and many aristocrats engaged in pederasty, symposiums, and other sexual encounters. Love poems, stories, and art abounded in the Roman Empire, and men even married each other sometimes.
ancient india
In India, sexual practices was and still is not openly discussed. An ancient Hindu text called Manusmrti states that homosexual practices existed but should be regulated by law. Fines and other punishments were often imposed on homosexuals. Many of the texts related to the loss of virginity before marriage as one of the ultimate crimes, and so punishments against females were often harsher than males since they could potentially be unsuitable for marriage. In extreme situations, a punishment for male homosexual relationships or intercourse could potentially result in the loss of a caste placement, a hugely demoralizing and degrading punishment in Indian society.
Despite the negative perceptions of homosexuality in India, one of the most extensive and beautiful surviving texts from India is called the Kama Sutra. The book includes the free expression of love between all sexes, ages, marriage, adultery, prostitution, sadomasochism, and transvestitism. Although the text is often seen as an erotic "how-to" manual, the main point of the text is to prove that love between consenting humans is perfectly natural and beautiful.
Despite the negative perceptions of homosexuality in India, one of the most extensive and beautiful surviving texts from India is called the Kama Sutra. The book includes the free expression of love between all sexes, ages, marriage, adultery, prostitution, sadomasochism, and transvestitism. Although the text is often seen as an erotic "how-to" manual, the main point of the text is to prove that love between consenting humans is perfectly natural and beautiful.
religions
As different religions have been created, spread, or died out, a few of the largest and most widely practiced religions perceive homosexuality or any sexual relationship besides between a man and a woman to be a sinful practice. The idea of homophobia (the fear of homosexual practices) is not a new practice either. Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Sikh religions are the most outspoken patrons of the anti-homosexuality doctrine. Some Buddhist doctrines are murky on the issue, since procreation is not seen as mandatory and therefore homosexual relationships are okay in some sectors. Homosexuals have been persecuted by these religions for thousands of years. Even though the Catholic Church willingly engaged in pederasty between priests and young men, it was not openly discussed. The creation of holy texts to those religions solidified their openly anti-homosexual practices for many years to come, and are still sources of conflict today. No one worldview is unanimously interpreted, however, and though the aforementioned religions may in some instances contain ideas against homosexual practices, the subgroups or individual patrons of these religions hold a spectrum of stances about homosexuality in society. It is worth noting that religious dialogue is often at the forefront of LGBT rights opposition. Worldview or religious convictions can be discussed cordially and with respect for diverse ideas, though this has not always been the case.
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