28. The Ancient World’s Attitude Towards Gay Relationships Was Mixed
In the ancient Greco-Roman world, some homosexual relationships between men were often accepted or at least tolerated. More so by the Greeks than by the Romans. However, whether Greeks or Romans, the ancients were not tolerant of homosexuality in its entirety, as the term is commonly understood in the modern world. Intimacy between men did not carry much of a stigma in itself – at least not for the top, or the one who did the penetrating. Exclusive bottoms – the ones penetrated – were often reviled, though. And effeminate behavior on the part of men jeopardized their social standing. Tough and manly gay warriors, such as members of the Sacred Band, above, were respected. Effeminate gay men, however, were not.
Many Roman emperors engaged in homosexual relations with other men, and their standing suffered no damage. Most famous among them was Emperor Hadrian. He was so passionate about a young male lover, Antinous, that he had him made into a god after his unexpected accidental death. However, such emperors were all top and did not engage in effeminate behavior. As seen further down this list, the one emperor who broke that taboo, was open about his role as a bottom, and engaged in openly effeminate behavior, was widely reviled and came to grief as a result.