Myths of Greek Sexuality Exploded

A ‘must’ read for those interested in the ‘politics of sex’ including the present day gay lobby is Bruce Thornton’s, EROS - THE MYTH OF ANCIENT GREEK SEXUALITY (Westview, 1997).

Thornton, a classics professor with a prodigious knowledge of Greek literature in its original dialects, has exploded three myths about the Greeks and sex. Nothing in the book suggest that Thornton writes from a Christian perspective. But he is an accomplished scholar.

The Greeks had a completely free and easy attitude to sex generally, yes ? Actually, no. They feared Aphrodite and her son Eros as beings capable of bringing chaos and cruel harm to individuals and society.

The Greeks approved of older men making homosexual love to boys, yes ? Actually, no. A tiny minority of the very wealthy consorted with boys, but to mentor and groom them intellectually. Sexual intercourse by an older man with a boy was disapproved of.

The Greeks accepted gay couples in stable relationships, yes ? Probably, no. Supporting evidence is lacking. But in any case the passive partner in a homosexual act was despised as ‘soft’ and homosexual intercourse was spurned.

Thornton’s demolition of these myths does not say, in effect, that Greeks did not engage in the above activities. Most certainly they did. But they did so against their own beliefs and standards. In fact, it is possible that their theoretical standards in the public domain were more conservative than ours today in the public domain.

Footnote: A personal observation
The Greeks’ problem was their theology, that is, they were stuck with the gods they had created, who were a rum lot. By contrast the God of the Bible has revealed himself - as ‘the Holy One.’ His revelation, couched in ‘words’ from above, are unambiguous in sexual matters - ‘Thou shalt not commit adultery.’ In the fullest light of God’s self-revelation in Jesus’ bloody death and his bodily resurrection men and by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit women find a power beyond their own for redemption from the destructive power of unfettered Eros.

An enlightening book, but not for the faint-hearted.