14. Ancient Mixed Attitudes Towards Homosexuality
In ancient Greece and Rome, some homosexual relationships between men were accepted, or at least tolerated. However, the Greco-Romans were not tolerant of homosexuality in its entirety, as the term is commonly understood in the modern world. Sex between men did not carry much of a stigma in of itself – at least not for the top, or the one who penetrated. Exclusive bottoms – the ones penetrated – were often reviled, though. Effeminate behavior on the part of men jeopardized their social standing. Men could engage in homosexual sex, and still be respected so long as they were tough and manly. Effeminate gay men, however, were despised.
Many Roman emperors engaged in homosexual relations with other men, and their standing suffered no damage. Most famously, Emperor Hadrian. He was so passionate about a young gay lover, Antinous, that he had him made into a god after his accidental death. However, such emperors were all tops, and did not engage in effeminate behavior. Heliogabalus was the only emperor who broke that taboo, was open about his role as a bottom, and engaged in openly effeminate behavior. He was widely reviled, and came to grief as a result: his reign ended with his brutal murder, after which his body was thrown into a river and his memory was condemned.