The history of Homosexuality

[Steppe Merc]

I think most of the time it was bisexuality, with someone having both male and female lovers. Certaint Ancient Greeks practiced this, for example.

But I think most of the time it was of the nobility or royalty, as you said...

[aw89]

Weren't there several ancient tribes that consider homosexuals to have two souls or some such?

[The Wizard]

Well, with the Greeks, it must be noted that their perception of what we have dubbed 'homosexuality' was completely different. So much so, in fact, that you can say that only the deed itself was the same.

[ajaxfetish]

It is very directly addressed in the Old Testament Law of Moses, so was certainly a significant issue even by that time (somewhere around 1000-500 bc). Plenty of prominent homosexuals or probably homosexuals (or bisexuals), such as Richard 1 & Edward II of England, or even arguably David & Jonathan in ancient Israel, and certainly many classical period Greeks (real & mythological, eg Achilles) who considered loving a man to be superior to loving a woman. As a guess, I'd say its history is about as long as the history of man.

Ajax

[LeftEyeNine]

Oh btw, a society called Lud (or Lut) had been massacred due to being all homosexuals according to Quran.

[Kralizec]

Homosexual acts have been observed with a variety of animal species, so I don't see why the earliest of humans didn't practice it. To prove that cavemen of 10.000+ years actually did it would be nigh impossbile.

[Hurin_Rules]

Acts that we would call homosexual have been around about as long as recorded history, though some historians have argued that homosexuality as an identity and lifestyle is a 19th-century invention. They would argue that the complex of behaviours, mannerisms and attitudes that we identify as homosexual were only combined in the medical literature of the 19th century--that is, being 'homosexual' only became a 'complex' recently. Before that, you had acts like sodomy, but you didn't have a complex. Not sure if I'd agree, but that is one theory.

Obviously, acts like sodomy have been severely condemned in many societies, usually due to religious objections. The ancient Greeks are unusual (though not completely alone) in openly sanctioning pederasty and bisexuality).

[Kralizec]

Actually, before the rise of christianity many societies were either tolerant or mostly uncaring about the issue of homosexuality, and judaism was the exception.

[Geoffrey S]

Certainly homosexuality was fine in ancient Greece, though it was seen in a completely different way there; generally it would develop into a strong friendship as the partners grew older and married a woman, and was a direct result of the different types of contact in those days. As with many things, excess was more frowned upon than the act itself. An extremely interesting novel featuring this subject prominently is The Last of the Wine, by Mary Renault.

Oh btw, a society called Lud (or Lut) had been massacred due to being all homosexuals according to Quran.

All? It's not like they'd have lasted very long anyway, then.

[Kraxis]

Actually I have heard that TRUE homosexuality was frowned at... For instance the two 'saviours' of Athens (when democracy had just been instituted a tyrant-imposter retook the city, these two guys then killed him in public and got killed themselves) were true homosexuals and that was regarded very poorly and cause somewhat of a stirr in the city.

So men living together and becoming personal lovers with no connection to women were definately not accepted. But then one just has to wonder how many just 'did their duty' and married women, but the same can be said of all history.

[Mouzafphaerre]

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Lut (لوط) is called Lot in the Old Testament.
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[Mouzafphaerre]

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Some native American tribes (the Hopi being one IIRC) are cited to encourage boys to become catamites and transvestites (Encyclopaedia Britannica). Sounds weird though; how would those people breed? Were all classes encouraged' or only the lowly?
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[Mouzafphaerre]

Well, with the Greeks, it must be noted that their perception of what we have dubbed 'homosexuality' was completely different. So much so, in fact, that you can say that only the deed itself was the same.

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A safe way of having your way without risking illegit children and demanding wives.
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