Homosexuality in Ancient Greece always remains a hot topic, still searching for a convincing answer.
The various references in the works of ancient writers "about children" as well as the depictions of homosexual scenes in ancient amphorae gave the opportunity to those who wanted to accuse the ancient Greeks of being homosexuals.
No reasonable person can deny that there were people with homosexual tendencies in the ancient world as well. However, there is no credible evidence that their proportion was significantly different from today's reality.
What led to the complete characterization of the ancient Greeks as homosexuals were the misunderstanding of the meaning of the term "pederastia". Proponents of this view identified the content of the term with the corresponding modern, while in reality, the true meaning of the word is closer to that of mentoring, counseling than sexual intercourse.
Victims of the above misunderstanding were the ancient Athenians, who were often reproached for their sexual preferences, giving the impression that Athens was a city where homosexuality flourished undisturbed.
The truth is far from the above position according to Xenophon.
The ancient Athenians not only did not encourage homosexuality but had taken a number of measures to protect the young Athenians, as the orator Aeschines informs us.
In the speech "Against Timarchus", the famous orator mentions in detail all the measures that the ancient "legislator" had taken to protect the virtue of the young Athenian men.
Laws for young boys
First, he mentions the rule that schools must not open before sunrise or remain open after sunset since darkness is an ally of those who are interested in young boys (According to Timarchus 9-10). There are also restrictions on visiting the gymnasiums where the young Athenians exercised naked.
In the event that a boy's parent sold him for money, any Athenian citizen could publicly denounce him. The punishment for such an offense was the release of the child from the obligation to care for his parent in old age, who had sold him in for money (according to Timarchus 13).
The law, however, was much harsher than those who promoted it. They were punished by death if they betrayed the sexuality of children of free citizens (According to Timarchus 14, 184).
Laws against homosexual activities
The Athenians, showing their sensitivity to this serious issue, had provided a series of punishments for almost all offenses related to homosexual relations:
If a slave molested a free boy, he was punished by a public flogging of fifty strikes(according to Timarchus 139).
In cases of rape, the victim could report the offender and receive a fine, which the offender would pay to both the victim and the state.
In cases of fornication, any Athenian citizen could file a public complaint against the offender, and the court, judging on a case-by-case basis, would impose the appropriate punishment (According to Timarchou 15).
Legal sanctions for homosexuals
Citing legal provisions attributed to Solon, the famous ancient legislator, Aeschines blatantly refutes the myth of homosexuality in ancient Athens.
The penalties provided by Athenian legislation for those who engage in homosexual relations are as follows:
He is not allowed to become a member of the 9 lords.
He is not allowed to be elected a priest.
He is not allowed to be an ombudsman.
He is not allowed to exercise power inside or outside Athens.
He is not allowed to be sent out as a war preacher.
He is not allowed to express an opinion.
He is not allowed to enter (public) Temples.
He is not permitted to be awarded at coronations.
He is not permitted to enter the sanctuary of the market.
So anyone convicted of being a homosexual but acting contrary to the provisions of the law is punishable by death!
Aeschines' clear wording leaves no room for misunderstanding. Not only did the Athenians not accept homosexuality as normal, but they imposed severe sanctions on those who came into contact with homosexuals.
The blanket transfer of the term "homosexuals" to the ancient Athenians is not only out of reality but ostentatiously overlooks unquestionable historical documents.
