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)?