Quote:
Originally Posted by Fuzz
Do you think that the Romans took that stance because the Greeks were rivals, and it was seen as a way to diminish them?
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The social structures surrounding homosexuality were quite complicated in the Greek and Roman world.
Homosexual companionship between equals was quite common, and indeed, seen by many as the finest, and closest relationship that a human being could enjoy. Aristophanes' myth of the two spheres in Plato's Symposium is probably the most beautiful, and poetic depiction of the Greek view of love. They actually believed in souls, and thought there was more to human relationships than just sexuality or even freedom of choice.
Pederasty was a weird mix of pedagogy, and sexual exploitation. It was quite contentious, and stigmatized. Aristophanes and Plato both wrote about the practice quite critically, and it was a common insult to imply that political enemies were part of such a relationship.
Basically, the young boy was seen as selling out his virtue for the attainment of privilege, and the older man was seen as a pervert. Many moralists in the ancient world saw it is a brute exploitation, and detrimental to the health of the polis.