The phenomenon of the sacred band.

[Greyblades]

Not sure from where did you get that, but it's wrong.
Sexual relations between soldiers were rather common in ancient Greece and the Sacred Band was no exception. Spartans, Macedonians and Greeks had no problem casually mentioning their homosexual affairs, with the couple of Alex and Hephaestion being the most famous.

Xenophon, in his sycophantic work about Cyrus, casually describes the relation between a young Persian and his rather hairy and manly comrade. Probably, that was an experience based on his own campaigns and not the Persian military tradition, but it gives you an idea about the subject. Finally, I'd recommend you to read the Conspiracy of the Royal Pages, it's basically a history of aristocratic young homosexuals snitching each other.

To conclude, the Sacred Band had nothing special concerning their sexual tendancies, it was an elite force, formed by noble men, owning his success at the unique way of its deployment.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_Band_of_Thebes


The Sacred Band of Thebes (Ancient Greek: Ἱερὸς Λόχος, Hieròs Lókhos) was a troop of picked soldiers, consisting of 150 pairs of male lovers which formed the elite force of the Theban army in the 4th century BC. It is said to have been organized by the Theban commander Gorgidas in 378 BC and to have played a crucial role in the Battle of Leuctra. It was annihilated by Philip II of Macedon in the Battle of Chaeronea in 338 BC. Other sources indicate that although it was Philip's army and tactics, the unit of his companion cavalry that defeated the Sacred Band was lead by his 18 year old son Alexander the III, better known as Alexander the Great.

Sounds like pure conjecture. Now if they were romantic partners, on the other hand; I guess things could happen (and would go both ways). Similar with those who are really good friends.

They were picked because they were romantic partners, evidently I was an idiot for forgetting to mention it. And yeah, probably conjecture, the argument isn't mine I am just confused that if it is true why it came up in the women in the millitary debates but not in the dont ask dont tell debates.

If it isn't true I wonder why there was never an argument for recreating the same dynamic that made the sacred band so fomidable in modern armies.

I am also curious why there werent more sacred bands formed after they proved so effective against the spartans.

[Strike For The South]

They weren't picked Becuase they were lovers. They became lovers after they were picked.

not to mention, trying to extrapolate a 21st century definition of "gay" back to the bc times doesn't work. Having sex with other men was not central to these men's identity like today's gays. They were simply banging. IIRC most of these super solider were still supposed to marry and produc a progeny.

i don't buy the male instincts stuff. Instinct tells you to run away from hot lead, if the military can beat that out of you, they can overcome manners

[Greyblades]

They weren't picked Becuase they were lovers. They became lovers after they were picked.

Are you sure? Because my understanding is that the band relied on all thier members fighting along side their partners, if they just stuck any bunch of men together and told them to hook up the chances of all of them going along with it is remote. Seems like it'd be easier just to draw couples from other units and gather them together.

[Brenus]

"Instinct tells you to run away from hot lead," And don't speak about jumping from a plane!!!!

[Kadagar_AV]

Greyblades, do you happen to be gay yourself?

[Greyblades]

Greyblades, do you happen to be gay yourself?

Is that in invitation Kadagar?

[Kadagar_AV]

Is that in invitation Kadagar?

Nah, I am perfectly secure in my hetero sexuality :)

I 100% support the gay movement though... I just wanted to check what agenda you had with the post so I know how to meet it.

But yeah, the Sacred band was EFFIN AWESOME

And let's push the norm >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>