Meet the Sacred Band of Theb, a fearsome army of gay lovers

gay soldiers in ancient greece

In the fourth century BC, a fearsome army named the Sacred Band of Theb was formed, and was ma up entirely of gay upl.

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THIS FEARSOME, ANCIENT ARMY WAS MA UP ENTIRELY OF GAY LOVERS AND ENDORSED BY PLATO

The Sacred Band of Theb was an ele un of the Theban army prised of 150 gay male upl totalg 300 men. They were formed unr the learship of... * gay soldiers in ancient greece *

The Sacred Band of Theb was an ele un of the Theban army prised of 150 gay male upl totalg 300 men.

The once-famo troop of hero is often passed over discsns of Greek history bee they were gay and the ncept of a victor un of gay warrrs is at odds wh the prevalent homophobia of the prent day. It is entirely possible there was an earlier un of exclively gay lovers, however, & the Sacred Band was simply the most famo groupg. If an army of lovers existed before the Sacred Band, then Plato may have been referencg them, but do not seem the earlier un referenced by Herodot and others fs Phaeds’ suggtn as there is no mentn of that group beg exclively gay.

It is entirely possible there was an earlier un of exclively gay lovers, however, and the Sacred Band was simply the most famo groupg.

WERE THE SPARTANS GAY? HOMOSEXUALY SPARTA, ANCIENT GREECE

The ancient Greek cy of Theb was surprisgly relaxed about gay relatnships, even tchg the attentn of famo Greek philosopher Plato, who * gay soldiers in ancient greece *

The ancient Greek cy of Theb was surprisgly relaxed about gay relatnships, even tchg the attentn of famo Greek philosopher Plato, who noted that opns on the matter his cy of Athens were plited.

As mentned, the un was ma up entirely of male lovers, to a total of 300 (leadg them to sometim be lled the Theban “gay 300”).

In addn, is believed that unrlyg homophobia at the time and throughout history has led to the actns of the ele Theban un beg downplayed or pletely ignored. Plato explaed that the Theban emphasis on gay relatnships was bee they were poor at sctn, unlike Athenians, who perceived themselv as more sophistited.

THE HISTORY OF GAYS THE MILARY – THE SACRED BAND OF THEB

Meanwhile, Xenophon downplayed gay relatnships among Spartan troops, explag that they may fall love but do not engage sexual ntact. In the fourth century BC, a fearsome army named the Sacred Band of Theb was formed, and was ma up entirely of gay upl. In formg the 300-strong army, Gidas took an unual approach; he personally chose each member based on mer and abily, rather than social stat, and only selected gay upl.

The ancient gay army was offered the chance to surrenr, but as Plato predicted, they refed to give up ont of their lovers. The state of Sparta ma homosexual relatnships mandatory. The homoerotic element nnot be entirely ignored.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* GAY SOLDIERS IN ANCIENT GREECE

Meet the Sacred Band of Theb, a fearsome army of gay lovers .

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