CLAS/HIST1631

Politics and Pederasty at Athens

Pederasty

Pais, paidos = youth (here, male youth) Erastes = lover Most prominent in fifth-century Athens, but

seems to appear elsewhere Close relationship between an adolescent male

and adult male outside of his family Frequently a model for early modern

homosexuality, e.g. Oscar Wilde Today, illegal if the youth is under age of

consent and seen as form of child-abuse

Nature of Relationship Not to the exclusion of others Unequal: adult male was one who pursued,

who could provide wisdom to youth ?Not always physical Quite passionate Seen as properly having political outcomes

If takes place, then part of education as citizen Helps to bind together male community:

Soldiers hope to impress their beloveds, for example

Abominable if it does not live up to these standards: A youth who takes money for sex loses his

citizenship

Further Conventions

Facilitated at gymnasia Gift-giving Permission of father

Dignified

The Tyrannicides: Political Pederasty

The Legend of Harmodius and Aristogeiton

Popular drinking-song immortalized the lovers p. 116

Trouble Hipparchus was not the tyrant, he was the tyrant's

brother Their actions were due to personal slights, family

vengeance Partly the culture wanting to have pederastic

couple

The Rivals to Theodotus

Exposed in 'forensic speech', a speech written for law-courts

Events of the 4th C. B.C., but seem to apply to earlier pederasty, too

The speaker of the speech, and a rival named Simon both loved Theodotus Speaker says Simon beat the child and lured him to

his side by kindness Theodotus was living in his home with his sister and

daughters (p. 117)

Obsessive Behaviour

Simon is said to have given Theodotus money as lover's gift, more money than he possessed!

Alleges that Simon brings the case out of four years of anger over jealousy (p. 120).

Leads to street-fighting How is the defendant's case dubious (p. 119)?