Homosexuality in antiquity

Dealing with Homosexuality in antiquity was open, tolerant and without major prejudices. Virtually no one was surprised, for example, by writings and paintings that dealt with this very subject - and sometimes appeared very directly.

A particularly well-known example of this is Plato's "Symposion". This is a dialogue in which the speakers discuss their individual opinions on eroticism. The whole thing ends with a confession of love by the general Alcibiades, who confesses his feelings for Socrates.

Scenes like this surprised no one at the time. On the contrary. Confessions like this and love between a man and a man were treated just like heterosexual relationships. It is certainly no exaggeration to say that homophobia, such as we have to experience again and again nowadays, did not exist in this form back then.

The Roman Empire

There are quite a few sources that deal with the topic of Homosexuality in the Roman Empire deal with. Most of these sources are written. It is particularly interesting that many people who lived in Rome at the time paid attention in descriptions (and certainly in their own intercourse) to who took the active role and who took the passive role during sex. Precisely that said a lot about power and dominance. Or in other words: The active part was perceived as "the male" and "the strong one". Anyone who was passive was considered "unmanly" and "weak." For many at the time, for example, it would have been unthinkable for a rich, wealthy man to take the passive role in sex with a slave.

Homosexuality in ancient times, that's how it was with the Greeks!

Many certainly see in ancient Greece as a symbol of tolerance and equality of homosexuals. But: This is only a fraction of the truth. To paint a more realistic picture, it is important to look a little closer.

At that time, sexual love for "boys" was socially accepted. However, if a man had a boyfriend (or an affair) who was of the same age and position, he was often discriminated against. Relationships of this kind were not desired. Tolerance was the maximum of what those involved could expect. Homosexuality in ancient times among the Greeks was thus anything but desirable.

In artistic terms, Plato in particular dealt with the subject.

Ancient Egypt

Compared to Greece and the Roman Empire, the sources on homosexuality in Ancient Egypt are much more meager. In addition, many disagree on how the available sources should be interpreted... and whether they are even genuine.

Certainly, however, it would also be wrong to assume on the basis of the few sources that homosexuality in ancient Egypt would have been hushed up. Because: Also with regard to other sexual orientations there are not many sources from the Egyptian side. If - for example in a drawing - a sexual act is depicted, it is usually not very detailed. In many cases, the depicted scenes are so "fuzzy" that scholars do not even agree on whether a couple is shown having sex or whether it is a completely different subject.

The Rise of Christianity: The Roman Empire Rethinks

Anyone who compares society's attitude toward homosexuality in the Roman Empire, Greece and Egypt with the current status quo is likely to quickly wonder what has happened over time. After all, homophobia plays a role in just about every country on earth - sometimes more, sometimes less.

Events in the Roman Empire in particular are comparatively well documented in this context. Here, the rise of Christianity in particular brought about a turning point. Many people who held high positions within the church increasingly spoke of "sin" and strongly condemned homosexual acts. A sad turning point was the 13th century. At that time, laws were passed that punished homosexual acts with death. In the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation, the "Constitutio Criminalis Carolina" was introduced. It created the basis for men and women to be punished for same-sex acts. Those convicted were burned at the stake. During the French Revolution, some 200 years later, the situation for homosexual people improved again somewhat. From a absolute equality, however, can be achieved to this day (!) not be the speech.