I’m not a specialist, but I’m not sure the idea of a “lover-and-beloved’ as a mutually ennobling relationship” existed before the modern era.
That was definitely core to the Hellenic idea of pederasty.
In classical Greece there was already the idea of sexuality as a domination situation were the gender of the participants were not that important, only the domination of the penetrator on the penetrated (normally younger and poorer than the penetrator).
The idea of sex as domination has more in common with the Roman view of sexuality than the Greek. Especially of note is that in Greek same-sex relationships, intercrural sex is preferred rather than penetrative.
That was definitely core to the Hellenic idea of pederasty.
The idea of sex as domination has more in common with the Roman view of sexuality than the Greek. Especially of note is that in Greek same-sex relationships, intercrural sex is preferred rather than penetrative.
My reading on the subject goes back a long way, so I’ll take your word for it. But I’m quite surprised.
What does fish have to do with it? Oh wait never mind.