Did ancient Greece consider homosexuality typical and healthy?

Answer 1

The most widespread and socially significant form of same-sex sexual relations in ancient Greece was between between adult men and adolescent boys, known as pederasty. The most common form of same-sex relationships between males in Greece was "paiderastia" meaning "boy love". It was a relationship between an older male and an adolescent youth. In Athens the older man was called erastes, he was to educate, protect, love, and provide a role model for his beloved. His beloved was called eromenos whose reward for his lover lay in his beauty, youth, and promise.
The first recorded appearance of a deep emotional bond between adult men in ancient Greek culture was in the Iliad (800 BC). Although Homer does not explictly depict the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus as sexual, by the beginning of the Classical era (480 BC) the two heroes were interpretated as pederastic icons.
Sappho, a poet from the island of Lesbos, wrote many love poems addressed to women and girls. The love in these poems is sometimes requited, and sometimes not. Sappho is thought to have written close to 12,000 lines of poetry on her love for other women. Of these, only about 600 lines have survived. As a result of her fame in antiquity, she and her land have become emblematic of love between women.
Pedagogic erotic relationships are also documented for Sparta, together with athletic nudity for women. Plato's Symposium mentions women who "do not care for men, but have female attachments."
The Sacred Band of Thebes, a separate military unit reserved only for men and their beloved youths, is usually considered as the prime example of how the ancient Greeks used love between soldiers in a troop to boost their fighting spirit. The Thebans attributed to the Sacred Band the power of Thebes for the generation before its fall to Philip II of Macedon, who was so impressed with their bravery during battle, he erected a monument that still stands today on their gravesite.

Answer 2

Healthy I can't answer, but it did fit in some ways ther view on the "soulmate", the person or persons who they were fated to meet in this lifetime to complete themselves. As a matter of fact the homosexual love among the middle-aged man and the "quintessence of beauty" found in the adolescent male was seen only as a phase in the older man's life. In such cases as this lead to sex (which according to some scholoars was actually the minority of cases) it was typical for the older man to relieve himself on the leg of the youth without anything more occurring. And if the older man kept up his emotional attatchment for too long a period (more than a few months) his peers would think him a little strange. It was considered a normal vacation from women, rather than a lifestyle all its own.

Answer 3

No they were not! That impression is being a wrong one! They had very strict laws against it! Some kings had the "privilege" to act that way because nobody could oppose them. But in front of philosophers and other moral teachers of the ancient Greece they were hiding it, and they were trying to find other excuses for they behavior. Spartans on the other hand they were "throwing" homosexual people from a clif.

Answer 4

The saying goes that back in the good ole' days of Greek and Roman times man on man was the way to go. Females were only for procreation.

Answer 5

Yes..so did the Romans. Very hot bath scenes !

Answer 6

Yes! Many people back then had at least experiences with the same sex.

Answer 7

The ancient Greeks were bisexual. Both homosexual and heterosexual would be incomplete.

Answer 8

it was very normal to them more so with the Romans.

Answer 9

Yes but, they also reaped the whirlwind

Answer 10

yea