Homosexuality, unlike today, was a normal part of ancient civilisations such as ancient Greece, Rome or Egypt. Many pots, pictures or books that describe, or at least hint towards same-sex relationships were discovered in the mediteranian space. Homosexuality wasn’t practiced only by slaves or low class citezens but also by high ranked citezens, politicians or even rulers.
Archaeologists, who studied the way people lived in ancient Egypt, also looked at the aspect of same-sex relationships and their acceptence in society at the time when piramids were built and people venerated multiple gods. Even though many theories have been brought forward by archaeologists, they still haven’t come to an agreement on the matter of whether same-sex relationships in ancient Egypt were commonly accepted, as there was not any solid evidence discovered that might fully confirm or deny a theory, so an overview of the situation differs from person to person. Even so there are known rumors of love stories between two men, such as the relationship between Nyankh-khnum and Khnum-hotep whose bodies have been buried together and surrounded by pictures of them holding, touching and standing nose to nose, which at that time was considered to be the same act as a kiss, or the myth of Horus and Seth in which Seth, the god of war and desert, was driven by lust for Horus in committing treacherous acts, who might confirm the theory that homosexuality was accepted in ancient Egypt, this theory being backed up by the lack of evidence in the matter of punishments for a sexual relationship between two men. Relationships between two women in ancient Egypt can’t be discussed properly as to this date there hasn't been found any evidence on this subject.
Whilst same-sex relationships in ancient Egypt aren’t supported by enough evidence, in ancient Greece there is plenty of evidence on the subject, to the point where it has become common knowledge of same-sex relationships in ancient times, such as the relationship between Patroclus and Achilles. Although the relationship between the legendary soldier Achilles and Patroclus is the most known, it’s certainly not the only homosexual relationship from that time. It was frequent practice between men to take on a younger lover of the same sex, this practice being known as “paiderastia”. This relationship was like an initiation for the younger partener to the Greek society, in which the older partner would educate, love and protect the younger one, being not only accepted, but also highly encouraged in the Greek society. Even so, this arrangement would last until the younger boy would become a man, after that point, relationship between two males becoming a bit of a taboo subject. Greeks would not judge a relationship by the sex of the partners but rather the role they partook in it. The dominant one in the relationship would be viewed as a normal citizen in an ordinary relationship whilst the submissive one would be considered weak, feminine and receive criticism from others. Nevertheless, relationships between men of the same age weren’t unheard of, quite the opposite, the best example being the army known as “the sacred band of Thebes”. This army consisted of approximately 150 couples and solely male couples who worked together to achieve their purpose. The soldiers took a sacred vow to the significant other to protect and love them. The eldest in the couple was known as “erastes”, or “lover”, while the younger, submissive one as “eromenos”, which translates to “beloved”. The army met their end by the hands of the macedonian army, and it is believed that the leader “Theagenes” died while trying to protect the body of his beloved. Relationships between two women were also not unusual but not as publicly made as relationships between men. Sappho was a poet who described in over 12000 lines her love for women, but whose work was lost through time until the point where only about 600 lines of poetry are still known.
After the conquer of Greece by the Roman empire, the romans copied the Greek culture which would include, but not limited to beliefs, gods, traditions, art, as well as thier views on homosexuality. Just like the Greeks, the Romans did not criticize the sex of the partners but their possition in the relationship, going as far as to belive that no roman citezen should submit to another. To solve this issue, men hired prostitues or bought slaves if they had the money. There are emperors, whose names are known until today that had male lovers, and in some cases, even married other men. For example Nero, the mad emperor known for his anarchist spirit, married Pythagoras, a freedman, and even went as far as to play the role of the bride in the union, wearing a bridal veil. Nero also married a slave named Sporus, whom he forcefully castrated and dressed in woman’s clothing to look like the wife he had previouslly beaten to death. The emperor Domitian was also in a relationship with another man, while Cesar had rumors of an alleged relationship with a king, in which he played the role of the submissive. However, relationships between women were rare and in the time of Augustus almost unheard of.
The LGBT community was present throughout history, from the dawn of time. Today it only got a name and was made public, which led to unplaced criticism and hate from people as common as the neighbor next door, a relative, friend or just a person in the line at the supermarket. People love other people, it's in our nature, sometimes it just happens to be a person of the same sex, sometimes it might be a person which doesn’t identify as neither a male of female or isn’t comfortable with the letter placed near the “sex” box on the birth certificate. Love is love, it doesn’t matter between who.
“Rapidly they came. And you, O Blessed Goddess,
a smile on your immortal face,
asked what had happened this time,
why did I call again,
and what did I especially desire
for myself in my frenzied heart:
‘Who this time am I to persuade
to your love? Sappho, who is doing you wrong?’
For even if she flees, soon she shall pursue.
And if she refuses gifts, soon she shall give them.
If she doesn’t love you, soon she shall love
even if she’s unwilling.”
(Sappho)
Lines that show that no matter how hard you try to ignore and deny the love you feel for a person because of puny aspects like sex or race in the end the heart will make the ultimate decision instead of the deciveing eyes who tend to see only the defects of one, which will lead to anguish and turmoil for everyone’s inner self.
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